Treatment words
Recurrence
Also written as Recurrent, Relapse, Local recurrence, Disease recurrence
What it means
Recurrence means cancer that has come back, usually after a period of time when it could not be detected. It may come back in the same place as the original tumour or in another place in the body.
Why it matters
Your oncologist will check where it has returned and plan next steps from there.
Ask your oncologist
"Where has the cancer recurred, and what are the treatment options now?"
From NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: recurrence. Not medical advice: your oncologist decides.