I'm in the middle of treatment for a recurrence. My recurrence comes not much more than a year after my original. It was discovered through my 'one year' follow up PET scan, as a mets to lymph nodes. I haven't even gotten through treatment for this one yet and I'm already finding myself worried about recurrence (MORE recurrence).
There is an Ironman triathlon race next summer that I'm wanting to do (I've done them before) but I find myself wondering if I should put down the money for the entry fee and take the chance that I'll be healthy in June. I'll be done with treatment in about December....so I SHOULD be healthy again in June 2008, but that's assuming no more recurrence.

I'm sorry as I'm probably not helping ease your fears, but the recurrence chance is something we all face and I think sometimes it can be therapeutic to just talk about it. Hopefully you can keep it from dominating your life. I will say that while I think about it a lot, I don't let it overcome me. It's in my thoughts and concerns, but I don't let it debilitate me. I still have too much living to do!!!

Best of luck to you
-Steve

Age 41 - Stage 2 SCC tongue Dx 2/06. Cisplatin x3, IMRT x35. Mets to neck node discovered 7/07. RND 40 nodes removed, margins not clear. Cisplatin, Taxotere, 5-FU Fall 07, then IMXT/Erbitux for 7 wks. Inoperable mets to both lungs and pleura Dx Oct'08. 4 cycles Carboplatin, Erbitux, 5-FU so far.