New Delhi, July 1 -- Cancer relapse refers to the reappearance of malignant cells after a period of remission. It can occur months to decades post-treatment, with metastatic latency (dormant cancer cells) being a key mechanism.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Poonam Sharma, Associate Professor and Officiating Head - Department of Pathology at AIIMS Jammu, shared that relapse rates vary by cancer type:

Dr Poonam Sharma answered, "Our genes can significantly affect the chances of a cancer returning. Some people inherit genetic mutations that make their cancer more likely to come back. For instance, certain mutations-such as those in the TP53 or PIK3CA genes-are commonly found in relapsed breast cancers. In other cases, new genetic c...