Relapse, recurrence

Despite the successful course of oncological treatment, the disease may return (so-called relapse, recurrence). Long-term follow-up and regular examinations within the dispensary serve to detect early recurrence of the disease, which may occur months to years after the end of treatment. Early detection of relapse increases the chance of recurrence.

I'm afraid of a relapse, what should I do?

The scheme of outpatient check-ups during dispensary care is set so that a possible relapse of the disease is diagnosed at the earliest possible stage. The greatest risk of relapse is in the first years after treatment, so inspections are relatively common during this period. If you suspect the return of the disease, do not hesitate to contact our workplace in the meantime, either directly or through your child's pediatrician, with whom we remain in long-term contact.

Suspected relapse - what's next?

If the doctor suspects the disease to return based on the results of an outpatient check-up, your child will have a more detailed examination. In patients treated for a solid tumor, we usually supplement other imaging examinations, and according to the results, the doctor may also indicate a biopsy. In children after leukemia treatment, we supplement the bone marrow aspiration, if this is not part of the routine control

The disease is back, now what?

For all diseases treated at our workplace, there are standard treatment procedures in case of relapse. Depending on the original diagnosis, your child will be treated with appropriate anti-cancer treatment, and bone marrow transplantation is no exception in children with leukemia relapse.

Will my baby heal again?

The chance of cure is lower in case of disease relapse than in the initial diagnosis. The success of relapse treatment depends on the initial diagnosis, its extent, the age of the child and many other parameters. In either case, initiation of relapse treatment is appropriate.

Second and subsequent relapse - do we still have a chance?

Recurrences of the disease show that the disease is not under long-term control and that anticancer treatment is failing. In some cases, the disease may be untreated. At such times, we talk to patients and their families about continuing care in the form of palliative treatment.