In the back of every cancer patient's mind is the possibility that the disease may return. Yet if it does, most patients think, "How can this be happening to me again?"

The shock is back. The fears are back - of telling your family and friends, of more treatment, and possibly of death. The anger is there, too. You've been told you have cancer again. You may feel that after all you've been through, it should have been enough. And the unanswered question is, "Will the treatment work this time?"

Even though you may feel some of the same things you felt when you were first diagnosed, now there is a difference. You've been through this before. You've faced cancer and its treatment and the changes that came to your life. You know that medical care and emotional support are available to you. Facing cancer again is difficult, but it's a challenge you can handle.

As you read When Cancer Recurs, remember that there are more than 100 different types of cancer. Each is different, and each person responds to treatment differently. One piece of information can't cover every situation for every person. For this reason, the information here is general, and some of it may not apply to you. Still, a lot of people have found ways to handle recurring cancer in similar ways, and their experiences may help you.

Many people who have faced the return of cancer will tell you that learning more about your illness and its treatment helps you take part in your care. Having a positive attitude toward treatment may help you control some of your emotional and physical reactions to it. Drawing on your own strengths and support from the people and resources around you can help you meet this challenge again.

Some of those resources are listed in the Resources section. Many of them are available from the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service or the American Cancer Society .

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