Haven’t I been through enough?”
You may be feeling shocked, angry, sad, or scared. Many people have these feelings. But you have something now that you didn’t have before – experience. You’ve lived through cancer once. You know a lot about what to expect and hope for.
Also remember that treatments may have improved since you had your first cancer. New drugs or methods may help with your treatment or in managing side effects. In fact, cancer is now often thought of as a chronic disease, one which people manage for many years.
When cancer comes back, doctors call it a recurrence or recurrent cancer. Some things you should know are:
Where Cancer Can Return
Doctors define recurrent cancers by where they develop. The different types of recurrence are:
Local recurrence
Regional recurrence
Distant recurrence
Local cancer may be easier to treat than regional or distant cancer. But this can be different for each patient. Talk with your doctor about your options.
Cancer that returns can affect all parts of your life. You may feel weak and no longer in control. But you don’t have to feel that way. You can take part in your care and in making decisions. You can also talk with your health care team and loved ones as you decide about your care. This may help you feel a sense of control and well-being.
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Catharine “Kate” is a Certified Administrator for Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE) and an Expert Senior Care Advisor. Kate’s grandmother battled Alzheimer’s Disease and Kate personally understands what millions of families are going through. Kate and her team are very passionate in empowering Seniors and their families by providing them with the Best Available Senior Care Options based on Senior’s care needs, preferred location and family’s budget.
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