Recurrent Cancers

Recurrent Cancers & Re-Irradiation

When cancer returns after a period without detectable disease, it is called a recurrence. A recurrent cancer may reappear in the original site, nearby lymph nodes, or at a distant location.

These tumors retain the name of their origin—for example, “lung cancer metastatic to bone”—and risk of recurrence is higher with fast-growing or node-positive tumors.

Recurrence classification

Local: Cancer returns at the original site.
Regional: Cancer appears in nearby lymph nodes.
Distant: Cancer spreads to another part of the body.

Why proton therapy?

Proton therapy can safely re-irradiate areas previously treated, because protons stop at the tumor and avoid delivering an exit dose to surrounding healthy tissue.

This precision reduces the risk of irreversible damage in tissues that have already received radiation, making proton therapy an option for many patients who cannot undergo repeat X-ray treatment.

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