Cancer recurrence: 4 questions to ask?
October 07, 2025
Medically Reviewed | Last reviewed by on October 07, 2025
You¡¯ve finished your cancer treatment and shown no evidence of disease ¡ª for weeks, months or maybe even years.?Then, a routine scan or bloodwork reveals something concerning. Your doctor thinks the cancer might have returned. So, what do you do now?
What happens when cancer recurs? We spoke with?, a radiation oncologist who specializes in the treatment of?inflammatory breast cancer.
Here are four questions she suggests asking your doctor about a potential cancer recurrence.
Is this a new type of cancer?
One of the first things your care team should establish is whether a new tumor stems from a brand-new type of cancer or if it¡¯s the same kind you had before, at your original diagnosis.
¡°°Â¾±³Ù³ó breast cancer and most other solid tumors,¡± explains Woodward, ¡°a recurrence is either local/regional, meaning it reappears in roughly the same place as it did before, or distant. In the latter case, it has spread to other organs.¡±&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Unless you have a genetic disorder that makes you prone to developing multiple types of cancer over the course of your lifetime, it¡¯s more likely that a subsequent tumor will be related to the first than it is to a brand-new disease. But the odds of any given cancer recurring are specific to the type of disease itself and its stage at diagnosis. So, the only way to find out for sure is to examine a few of the new tumor¡¯s cells under a microscope.
¡°Secondary new cancers are rare, but they do sometimes happen,¡± explains Woodward. ¡°Not all tumors in the lungs, for instance, are caused by lung cancer. They might actually be caused by something else ¡ª like breast cancer that has spread to the lungs. And, some cancers are known to be especially tricky and recur more frequently, including pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, glioblastomas, and triple-negative breast cancer.¡±&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Key takeaways
- Ask if this is a new type of cancer or an old cancer in a new location.??
- Don¡¯t assume that a recurrence means the cancer is more advanced now.?
- Your treatment will depend on many factors, including any previous therapies.
How advanced is the cancer?
You might think that a recurrent cancer would automatically be considered more advanced, such as?stage III or IV. But that isn¡¯t necessarily the case. How aggressive the current cancer is will be determined by your clinical team, but that won¡¯t be reflected in a new stage.?
¡°Cancer staging is usually done only at the beginning,¡± says Woodward. ¡°It doesn¡¯t change over time, even though we might add new information. So, while you may hear somebody say, ¡®Oh, my cancer is at stage IV now,¡¯ because it came back after they finished treatment for stage II, it¡¯s more accurate to say that it is a stage II cancer that has recurred.¡±?
Where is the cancer located now?
Cancer can¡¯t recur in an organ that¡¯s been removed surgically. But you could have a recurrence in the tissues surrounding the absent one. Some cancer types also have a propensity for recurring in certain locations when they spread.
¡°Breast cancer can also show up in other organs, most commonly in the liver, lungs,?bones?and brain,¡± says Woodward. ¡°That¡¯s why we routinely ask survivors if they¡¯ve been having any new headaches, cough, back pain,?hip pain?or bone pain during?follow-ups.¡±??
What are my treatment options?
The type and sequence of treatments you¡¯re offered will depend on:?
- the type of cancer you have?
- how advanced it is?
- your?medical history
- any previous treatments you¡¯ve received?
¡°If cancer recurs locally, a cure might still be possible,¡± Woodward explains. ¡°You may have a chance to reset the clock with a?mastectomy, for instance, if you previously had a?lumpectomy?and some?radiation therapy. But if the cancer recurs in a place that¡¯s?far from its original location, you will likely be on some form of therapy to control it for the rest of your life.¡±?
?or call 1-877-632-6789.
Cancer staging doesn¡¯t change over time.
Wendy Woodward, M.D., Ph.D.
Physician & Researcher