Rectal cancer recurrence ten years after surgery

The probability of recurrence ten years after rectal cancer surgery is low, but the possibility of recurrence cannot be completely ruled out. It depends on many factors, such as tumor stage, location, size, histological type, surgical margin, vascular invasion, preoperative radiotherapy, postoperative adjuvant therapy, etc. Patients should be reviewed regularly, and recurrence should be alert if abnormal. Whether rectal cancer recurs ten years after surgery depends on a variety of factors. Generally speaking, the probability of recurrence ten years after surgery is low, but the possibility of recurrence cannot be completely ruled out. The risk factors for recurrence after rectal cancer surgery mainly include: 1. Tumor stage: The later the tumor stage, the higher the risk of recurrence. 2. Tumor site: Low rectal cancer (within 5 cm of the anus) Relatively high risk of recurrence.3. Tumor size: The larger the tumor, the higher the risk of recurrence.4. Histological type: Poorly differentiated or undifferentiated rectal cancer has a higher risk of recurrence.5. Surgical margin: Positive surgical margin (Residual tumor cells) Higher risk of recurrence. 6. Vascular invasion: Higher risk of recurrence of tumor invasion of blood vessels or lymphatic vessels. 7. Preoperative radiotherapy: Higher risk of recurrence in rectal cancer patients who received preoperative radiotherapy. 8. Postoperative adjuvant therapy: Patients who did not receive adjuvant therapy or whose adjuvant therapy was not standardized after surgery had a higher risk of recurrence. For patients with rectal cancer after surgery, regular re-examination, including physical examination, blood examination, imaging examination, etc., is needed to detect recurrence early. The time interval for re-examination is generally: re-examination every 3 - 6 months within 2 years after surgery, re-examination every 6 - 12 months within 3 - 5 years after surgery, and re-examination every year after 5 years. If the following symptoms occur after rectal cancer surgery, it is necessary to highly suspect recurrence: 1. Change in defecation habits: such as diarrhea, constipation, increased or decreased frequency of defecation, etc. 2. Change in stool characteristics: such as stool thinning, flattening, mucus or pus, etc. 3. Abdominal pain or abdominal discomfort: often dull pain or swelling pain, the position is not fixed. 4. Abdominal mass: Abdominal palpable mass, hard texture, surface is not smooth, poor mobility. 5. Anemia, emaciation, fatigue and other systemic symptoms: suggesting that the tumor consumption is large. In short, rectal cancer ten years after surgery there is still the possibility of recurrence, but the probability of recurrence is low. Patients need regular review, in order to early detection of recurrence and timely treatment. At the same time, patients also need to pay attention to diet, living habits, etc., maintain a good mentality, improve the quality of life.