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Medanta oncologist explains why cancer can return
Hindustan Times··1 Sept
Dr Ashok Kumar Vaid, chairman of medical oncology at Medanta, Gurgaon, said cancer can return when minimal residual disease or dormant cells survive initial treatment. Those cells may stay inactive for years without appearing on routine scans. He said recurrence does not necessarily mean the first treatment failed, and cited liquid biopsy and ctDNA tools for earlier detection.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Survivors may still need scheduled exams, blood tests or imaging based on cancer type and risk factors.
- Vaid said being cancer-free does not always mean follow-up can stop altogether.
- If cancer returns, options can include targeted therapy, immunotherapy, specialised radiation and surgery.
What's Happening
- Dormant cells may reactivate after immune, hormonal, inflammatory or genetic changes, Vaid said.
- Recurrence may appear at the original site, in nearby tissue or nodes, or as metastasis in another organ.
- Researchers are developing drugs aimed at dormant cells before they form visible tumours, he said.
What MRD Means in Practice
- Minimal residual disease refers to a very small number of cancer cells that can remain after surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or targeted therapy.
- Liquid biopsy and circulating tumour DNA tests look for microscopic disease before it shows on imaging.
- Vaid has over 41 years of experience and spoke to HT Lifestyle for the explainer.
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