Why Cancer Comes Back and How to Stop It?

“Why does cancer come back?”

“What is the reason for cancer recurrence?”

These are the some of the most searched questions related to cancer. The answer to these questions are generally being searched by those who are either going through cancer treatment themselves or they know someone who is going through cancer treatment. Cancer is a disease that doesn’t just affect the patient, but the people around them too. But the fear of cancer doesn’t leave the survivor even after defeating it. Every cancer survivor’s nightmare is that cancer might return to their lives.

Studies have proven that a survivor’s health habits, such as food, fitness, and lifestyle post-cancer treatments play a heavy role in determining the recurrence of cancer. Healthy habits that one might include could be more effective than even medication, with absolutely no negative side effects.

What is cancer recurrence?

Not all types of cancer come back but some of them may still do. When cancer comes back after a certain period, which varies from weeks, months, or years after the primary cancer treatment, it is called ‘recurrence’.

Cancer recurrence happens because some cancer cells could have been left behind in the body despite extensive treatment. These cells could be present in the same place where the cancer first originated or could be in any other part of the body. These cells remain dormant for some time but start multiplying and spreading eventually.

Sometimes, cancer stops responding to the medicines that were once helping. This is known as drug resistance, and it can make treatment more challenging. Cancer begins when normal, healthy cells go through changes—called mutations—in their genes. These changes cause the cells to stop behaving like they should. Over time, cancer cells can keep changing and become even more abnormal.

Some of these changes can make the cancer cells stop responding to certain treatments. In such cases, your doctor might suggest trying a different type of therapy. However, there are times when cancer cells become resistant to several drugs at once. This is called multi-drug resistance, and it can limit treatment options. Even if this happens, it’s important to remember that there are often other paths to explore, and your medical team will work with you to find the best possible approach.

Why some cancers come back?

Certain cancers have higher chance of coming back or recurrence. This is because there cancer cells are generally more aggressive – meaning they multiply more aggressively and the cancer does recur despite treatment. It is important to remember that cancer recurrence has many explained and many unexplained factors.

Cancers with highest cases of recurrence are:

Glioblastoma: It is the most common type of brain cancer, and almost always comes back, according to research from the Journal of Neuro-Oncology. However, don’t worry—Glioblastoma is quite rare.
Epithelial ovarian cancer also has a high chance of returning. Studies suggest that about 85% of cases experience recurrence after treatment.
Bladder cancer: Even after the bladder is surgically removed, there’s still a 30% to 54% chance that the cancer may return in the nearby area.

For those who’ve been treated for breast cancer, especially with localised tumors, most recurrences happen within the first five years. The risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body (metastatic recurrence) is similar, whether the initial treatment was a lumpectomy with radiation or a mastectomy.

One important factor that can influence the risk of recurrence is the tumour grade. This grading reflects how the cancer cells look under a microscope. If the cells look a lot like normal ones—what doctors call well-differentiated—they tend to grow more slowly. But if the cells look very abnormal (poorly differentiated or undifferentiated), they usually grow faster and are more likely to come back. Tumor grades typically range from 1 to 3, with higher numbers indicating more aggressive cancer.

Difference between “cancer recurrence” and “cancer progression”?

It’s not always easy to tell the difference between cancer coming back (recurrence) and cancer getting worse (progression). Recurrence means the cancer was gone for a while but has returned. Progression means the cancer never completely went away and is now growing or spreading further.

Let’s say the cancer seemed to disappear for a short time but then came back—was it really gone? In such cases, it might not be a true recurrence. Here’s what might have happened instead:

Not all the cancer was removed during surgery. Some cancer cells might have been too small to detect through scans or tests. Over time, those hidden cells can grow big enough to cause symptoms or show up on scans. These types of cancers often grow quickly and can spread fast.
The cancer became resistant to treatment. Just like some germs become resistant to antibiotics, cancer cells can become resistant to chemotherapy or radiation. Even if most of the cancer was destroyed, a few tough cells may survive and grow again.

If cancer returns shortly after treatment, it’s important to speak with your healthcare team about the next steps. There’s no exact rule on how long cancer needs to stay away before it’s considered a recurrence. However, many doctors view it as a recurrence if there were no signs of cancer for at least a year.

Things to keep in mind during and after cancer treatment

This dread of cancer rearing its ugly head is devastating. But it must be remembered that instead of waiting for cancer to come back, making specific lifestyle changes can not only reduce the risk of cancer recurrence but also boost the long-term survival rates.

Eat a healthy diet containing primarily vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, and supplement it with poultry and fish. Stay away from saturated fat, refined sugar, and high-fat dairy products
Keeping a diet low in red meat and any kind of processed meat protects one against the progression of cancer, and cancer recurrence.
Keeping one’s weight close to the average BMI (Body Mass Index) is also important. Studies have shown that people who have lost excess weight and kept it off following the cancer treatment have a lower recurrence risk.

Cancer recurrence doesn’t happen randomly. Years of research have proved that the lifestyle choices we make can make a world of difference.

Conclusion

Healthy habits after cancer treatment, such as eating a healthy diet, staying away from processed and red meat, and keeping weight close to the average BMI, can reduce the risk of cancer coming back and improve long-term survival rates. Making specific lifestyle changes can make a world of difference. Instead of feeling powerless, one must gather their fighting spirit and choose to live life fearlessly.