Actually, and unfortionately, the recurrence rate for SCCHN is quite high. Most of which is seen in smoking, and alcohol related cancer. The overall 5 year survival rate hasn't changed much in the past few decades, and is still under 50 percent, even lower at certain sites. The first two year's is when the majority of recurrences happen, which I may recall to be is in the 40's range, with more occurring in the first year, but seems to level off after that. HPV related cancers have a lower recurrence rate, at 15 percent. I recently read in one of the Journals that an increase in HPV recurrences are being seen after 5 years, which is different from tobacco, and alcohol related, which is seen to level off after the 2nd year, so they are suggesting no de-esculation of treatment outside of clinical trials.

All that doesn't mean much since many other factors are involved, and each person is different, so is treatment, age, type of CCC.........