My mother has had 5+ years of seemingly DFS after resection of a small
bowel adenocarcinoma (stage III, moderately differentiated) plus lymph
nodes. No chemo or radiation given. 5 years of CT scans showed nothing
up until now, also she has been opened up on two occasions to
investigate sudden acute bowel obstruction. All that was found were
adhesions and scar tissue.

Now it is looking increasingly likely that there is a tumor in the same
place as the first tumor. If it is a recurrence, how is this likely to
have happened. A very slow growing tumor which was there all the time
growing at a steady rate but is only now big enough to see? Or residual
cancer which became dormant after surgery and stayed that way for years
but then suddenly started growing quickly again?

The other question is about regional lymph nodes. They were removed in
the first resection and some contained cancer. This may sound stupid
but will the removed nodes have re-grown in the meantime? Also, what
might be the implications of their removal for the prognosis after a
recurrence e.g. would the recurrent cancer spread more easily if there
were no nodes.

Thanks.