Cancer can return at its original site, in nearby tissues or lymph nodes, or in another part of the body. The National Cancer Institute classifies these as local, regional and distant recurrence. If cancer spreads to another organ, it is still identified by the type of cancer in which it began. Doctors usually conduct scans, laboratory tests and other examinations when recurrence is suspected. Treatment then depends on where the cancer has returned, how much it has spread, the original treatment and the person’s overall health. Options can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted or biological therapies, or a combination of treatments.
