When cancer returns after a period of remission, it’s considered a recurrence. A cancer recurrence happens because, in spite of the best efforts to rid you of your cancer, some cancer cells were left behind and eventually grow and become apparent. The cancer may come back to the same place as the original tumor or to another place in the body. Between 70-90 percent of patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer will have a recurrence. While recurrent ovarian cancer is highly treatable, it is rarely curable with today’s therapies. Because many women with recurrent ovarian cancer will be receiving chemotherapy for a prolonged period of time, sometimes continuously, the toxicities of therapy are a major factor in treatment decisions.

The effectiveness and type of available treatment for recurrent ovarian cancer depend on the type of chemotherapy the patient received in the past, the side effects associated with previous treatments, the length of time since finishing the previous treatment and the extent of the recurrent cancer.

Many times chemotherapy is used to stop the progression of the cancer and prolong the patient’s survival. Surgery is sometimes used to relieve symptoms, such as a blocked bowel, caused by the recurrence.

A woman, in consultation with her doctor, should set realistic goals for what to expect from her treatment. Many times this means weighing the possible limited benefit of the new treatment against the possible down side of it. At some point, she may decide that continuing treatment is unlikely to improve her health or survival. Ultimately, anyone facing a life threatening illness must be certain that she is comfortable with whatever decision she makes.