Study: Later Recurrence of Rectal Cancer Increasingly Being Found

While the recurrence of rectal cancer usually occurs within the first five years after treatment, researchers reported in the European Journal of Surgical Oncology that doctors increasingly are diagnosing patients with later recurrence.

The researchers analyzed data on 978 patients with invasive stage I-III rectal cancer who underwent surgery between 1978 and 1990.

They reported that while nine out of 10 recurrences take place within the first five years, nine percent of the recurrences were discovered later than that with one diagnosed more than 12 years after initial treatment.

They said the later recurrences were more likely to be found in patients who had lower grade cancer. They said recurrence also was generally diagnosed "significantly earlier in patients undergoing regular follow-up."

"Long-term follow-up beyond five years demonstrates increasing numbers of late recurrences," the researchers concluded.

Other Sources: European Journal of Surgical Oncology