Hi Angela, you should consider yourself lucky to have been disease-free for more than 5 years. With Cancer, unfortunately the probablity of recurrence is higher than any other disease and that is why you need regular follow-ups (apart of statistical reason).

What I have realized that it may be easier to live assuming (I would not use the word Fear here) that you may have recurrence rather than being caught off-guard with too many question!

My father had a recurrence in 2 years and when his doctor told him that they would have to treat him, he said "I got a lease of 2 years and would be more than happy if I could get more"

Anyways, recurrence is treatable and certainly yes in your case. Take good care and plan for the future course of treatment.


Father; 67 yrs; RIP: 2012/05/26

TX:SCC pT2N1M0G2;Glossectomy+SND+CCRT(59.3Gy+6xCis.)[2009]
TX:Nodal Mets; 3xDCF[2011/05/05]
TX: RND + PMMC Flap[2011/07/11]
DX:SCC PNI+ECE
TX:Re-RT 60Gy[2011/09/21]
TX:Gefitinib 250mg[2011/12/18]