GITNUXREPORT 2025

Cancer Recurrence Statistics

Cancer recurrence affects up to 80% of patients within five years.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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The recurrence rate for Hodgkin lymphoma varies between 10-20% depending on treatment type

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The recurrence rate for testicular cancer is less than 10%, owing to high cure rates

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The recurrence rate of multiple myeloma is about 80% within five years, despite initial remission

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In non-Hodgkin lymphoma, recurrence varies widely but can reach up to 40% depending on subtype

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The recurrence rate for cervical cancer is higher in patients with lymph node involvement, reaching up to 30-40%

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The rate of recurrence for urethral carcinoma is approximately 20-30%, depending on initial stage and treatment

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Testicular cancer recurrence is rare, with less than 1% experiencing relapse after successful treatment

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The five-year recurrence rate for gastric cancer varies widely but can be around 50%, especially in advanced stages

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Approximately 30-50% of cancer patients experience recurrence after initial treatment

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Recurrence rates for cervical cancer range from 10-20%, depending on stage and treatment

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The five-year recurrence rate for early-stage breast cancer ranges from 5% to 20%

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Lung cancer recurrence rates can be as high as 50% within the first two years after surgery

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Melanoma recurrence occurs in approximately 20-30% of cases within five years

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Prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy occurs in about 20-30% of patients within 10 years

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The risk of recurrence for colorectal cancer patients drops significantly after five years, but it still remains around 10% for stage II

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Thyroid cancer recurrence occurs in approximately 10-15% of patients within 10 years

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Recurrence of ovarian cancer is reported in about 70% of cases within two years after initial treatment

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Approximately 25% of bladder cancer patients experience recurrence within 5 years

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For glioblastoma, the recurrence rate is nearly 100%, typically within 7 months of treatment

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Breast cancer recurrence is most common within the first five years post-treatment but can occur even after 10 years

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Approximately 30% of women with early-stage endometrial cancer experience recurrence within 5 years

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Recurrence of pancreatic cancer after surgery is common, with a rate of around 80% within two years

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About 15% of patients with mesothelioma experience recurrence after treatment, typically within two years

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Recurrence of stomach (gastric) cancer occurs in approximately 50% of patients within three years

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Liver cancer recurrence after resection has been reported in 70-80% within 5 years

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The five-year recurrence rate for esophageal cancer varies between 50-60%, depending on stage and treatment

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Recurrence in Hodgkin lymphoma patients is most likely within the first two years post-treatment, around 10%, but can be higher depending on initial risk factors

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In melanoma, the rate of local recurrence after wide excision is approximately 10-15%, typically within the first year

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The recurrence rate for skin squamous cell carcinoma is around 5-10% when adequately excised, usually within 2-3 years

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Recurrence of anal cancer after initial treatment occurs in approximately 15-20% of cases within 2 years

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The recurrence rate in penile cancer varies but is approximately 10-15%, often within the first two years after treatment

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Recurrence in sinonasal cancers occurs in about 30-50% of patients within the first two years, especially in advanced cases

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The rate of local recurrence for low-grade gliomas is approximately 30-50% within 10 years, depending on treatment

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Recurrence of penile cancer usually occurs within the first 2 years, with rates reported around 10-15%

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Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) shows relapse or recurrence in approximately 80% of cases over disease course

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The probability of recurrence in soft tissue sarcomas can be as high as 45% if margins are positive

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Recurrence in basal cell carcinoma after surgical excision occurs in less than 5% of cases, usually within 5 years

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Key Highlights

Approximately 30-50% of cancer patients experience recurrence after initial treatment
The five-year recurrence rate for early-stage breast cancer ranges from 5% to 20%
Lung cancer recurrence rates can be as high as 50% within the first two years after surgery
Melanoma recurrence occurs in approximately 20-30% of cases within five years
Prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy occurs in about 20-30% of patients within 10 years
The risk of recurrence for colorectal cancer patients drops significantly after five years, but it still remains around 10% for stage II
Thyroid cancer recurrence occurs in approximately 10-15% of patients within 10 years
Recurrence of ovarian cancer is reported in about 70% of cases within two years after initial treatment
The recurrence rate for Hodgkin lymphoma varies between 10-20% depending on treatment type
Approximately 25% of bladder cancer patients experience recurrence within 5 years
Recurrence rates for cervical cancer range from 10-20%, depending on stage and treatment
The probability of recurrence in soft tissue sarcomas can be as high as 45% if margins are positive
For glioblastoma, the recurrence rate is nearly 100%, typically within 7 months of treatment

Did you know that nearly half of cancer patients face the sobering reality of recurrence, with rates varying dramatically across types—from a striking 80% in pancreatic and multiple myeloma to nearly 100% in glioblastoma—highlighting the urgent need for ongoing vigilance and personalized follow-up?

Cancer Types and Specific Recurrence Rates

The recurrence rate for Hodgkin lymphoma varies between 10-20% depending on treatment type
The recurrence rate for testicular cancer is less than 10%, owing to high cure rates
The recurrence rate of multiple myeloma is about 80% within five years, despite initial remission
In non-Hodgkin lymphoma, recurrence varies widely but can reach up to 40% depending on subtype
The recurrence rate for cervical cancer is higher in patients with lymph node involvement, reaching up to 30-40%
The rate of recurrence for urethral carcinoma is approximately 20-30%, depending on initial stage and treatment
Testicular cancer recurrence is rare, with less than 1% experiencing relapse after successful treatment
The five-year recurrence rate for gastric cancer varies widely but can be around 50%, especially in advanced stages

Cancer Types and Specific Recurrence Rates Interpretation

Cancer recurrence rates remind us that while some cancers like testicular cancer boast near-cure rates, others such as multiple myeloma and gastric cancer keep us on our toes with their stubbornly high relapse probabilities, emphasizing the unpredictable endurance of cancer despite initial successes.

Prevalence and Incidence of Cancer Recurrence

Approximately 30-50% of cancer patients experience recurrence after initial treatment

Prevalence and Incidence of Cancer Recurrence Interpretation

With nearly half of cancer survivors facing the possibility of a comeback, the recurrence statistics serve as a sobering reminder that in the battle against cancer, vigilance remains as crucial as victory.

Recurrence Rates and Patterns

Recurrence rates for cervical cancer range from 10-20%, depending on stage and treatment

Recurrence Rates and Patterns Interpretation

While a recurrence rate of 10-20% might seem like a coin toss, it underscores the ongoing importance of vigilant follow-up and advances in treatment to tip the scales in favor of long-term remission.

Recurrence Timing and Patterns

The five-year recurrence rate for early-stage breast cancer ranges from 5% to 20%
Lung cancer recurrence rates can be as high as 50% within the first two years after surgery
Melanoma recurrence occurs in approximately 20-30% of cases within five years
Prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy occurs in about 20-30% of patients within 10 years
The risk of recurrence for colorectal cancer patients drops significantly after five years, but it still remains around 10% for stage II
Thyroid cancer recurrence occurs in approximately 10-15% of patients within 10 years
Recurrence of ovarian cancer is reported in about 70% of cases within two years after initial treatment
Approximately 25% of bladder cancer patients experience recurrence within 5 years
For glioblastoma, the recurrence rate is nearly 100%, typically within 7 months of treatment
Breast cancer recurrence is most common within the first five years post-treatment but can occur even after 10 years
Approximately 30% of women with early-stage endometrial cancer experience recurrence within 5 years
Recurrence of pancreatic cancer after surgery is common, with a rate of around 80% within two years
About 15% of patients with mesothelioma experience recurrence after treatment, typically within two years
Recurrence of stomach (gastric) cancer occurs in approximately 50% of patients within three years
Liver cancer recurrence after resection has been reported in 70-80% within 5 years
The five-year recurrence rate for esophageal cancer varies between 50-60%, depending on stage and treatment
Recurrence in Hodgkin lymphoma patients is most likely within the first two years post-treatment, around 10%, but can be higher depending on initial risk factors
In melanoma, the rate of local recurrence after wide excision is approximately 10-15%, typically within the first year
The recurrence rate for skin squamous cell carcinoma is around 5-10% when adequately excised, usually within 2-3 years
Recurrence of anal cancer after initial treatment occurs in approximately 15-20% of cases within 2 years
The recurrence rate in penile cancer varies but is approximately 10-15%, often within the first two years after treatment
Recurrence in sinonasal cancers occurs in about 30-50% of patients within the first two years, especially in advanced cases
The rate of local recurrence for low-grade gliomas is approximately 30-50% within 10 years, depending on treatment
Recurrence of penile cancer usually occurs within the first 2 years, with rates reported around 10-15%

Recurrence Timing and Patterns Interpretation

Cancer recurrence rates vary widely—from lung cancer's daunting 50% within two years to early-stage breast cancer's relatively modest 5-20% over five years—highlighting that even when the initial fight is won, the battle against resurgence can be a long, unpredictable war and underscoring the importance of vigilance in survivorship.

Recurrence in Hematological and Rare Cancers

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) shows relapse or recurrence in approximately 80% of cases over disease course

Recurrence in Hematological and Rare Cancers Interpretation

Given that about 80% of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cases relapse or recur, it appears that despite its often indolent nature, this cancer’s persistence is as relentless as a recurring theme in a well-worn song—demanding continuous vigilance and innovative approaches to manage its recurrent encore.

Recurrence in Skin and Soft Tissue Cancers

The probability of recurrence in soft tissue sarcomas can be as high as 45% if margins are positive
Recurrence in basal cell carcinoma after surgical excision occurs in less than 5% of cases, usually within 5 years

Recurrence in Skin and Soft Tissue Cancers Interpretation

While basal cell carcinoma's recurrence rate stays below 5% within five years post-surgery, the lurking threat of soft tissue sarcoma recurrence at nearly half emphasizes the critical importance of clear margins and vigilant follow-up.