Pankaj Dheer Dies of Cancer: How Common Is Cancer Relapse, And What Can Be Done To Manage The Risk

Pankaj Dheer dies due to cancer relapse. Learn how common cancer recurrence is, why it happens, and ways to lower the risk for survivors.

Pankaj Dheer Dies of Cancer: How Common Is Cancer Relapse, And What Can Be Done To Manage The Risk

Written by Mishika Gupta |Published : October 15, 2025 10:20 PM IST

Pankaj Dheer has passed away due to cancer relapse, a very shocking end for the Veteran actor, best known for his iconic role as Karna in the TV serial Mahabharat. His death shows the dark reality that recurrence of cancer can happen even after successful treatment. A lot of people think that once they treat cancer vanishes forever, but relapse is a serious problem that patients and families really need to understand. His death raised awareness about how common cancer relapses are, why they happen again, and what steps you can take to manage the risk effectively.

Pankaj Dheer Cause of Death: What Is Cancer Relapse Or Recurrence?

Cancer relapses also called as cancer recurrence, means the return of cancer after an improvement period. It can happen in the same area or spread to other parts of the body. According to the doctors, even after having successful treatment, some cancer cells can remain dormant in your body for months or even years before reactivating. In that time, those cancer cells multiply and reach to the situation of relapse. That's why it is always suggested by doctors to get regular checkups, screening, and monitoring for the person who has had cancer.

How Common Are Cancer Relapses?

People are not aware about it, but cancer relapses are really very common. The likelihood depends on the type of cancer, stage of diagnosis and the treatment. The patient is going through. For example:

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  • Breast cancer has about 20 30% chances of occurrence within the first five years.
  • Colon and rectal Cancer show 30 50% relapse chances in advanced stages.
  • Cancers like leukaemia can also relapse even after years of remission.

High chances of cancer relapses are in first two or five years after treatment, but that does not mean later relapses cannot happen. This makes long-term vigilance and follow-up care, crucial for improving survival and quality of life.

Why Does Cancer Come Back?

Cancer, relapses has multiple reasons behind it:

  • Cancer cells that are microscopic and does not get treated or removed from your body during surgery, chemotherapy or radiation.
  • Cancer cells that are genetic cannot be removed from your body even after treatment.
  • Not taking proper treatment or getting diagnosed delayed may increase relapse risk.

How To Reduce The Risk Of Cancer Recurrence

Although there is no certified way to prevent cancer recurrence, but certain techniques can significantly reduce the risk of it:

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  • Consulting to your doctor regularly and going for screening.
  • Adding healthy and nutritious food to your diet like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
  • Performing physical activities like walking or yoga
  • Stop taking tobacco and alcohol completely
  • Managing stress with the help of meditation, therapy, and mindfulness.
  • Noticing symptoms like unexplained, tiredness, pain, or certain weight loss.
  • Adapting a healthy lifestyle even while taking medical treatment.

The reason behind Pankaj Dheer's death is a reminder for all of us that cancer recurrence is very serious and ongoing challenge. While medical advancement have improved treatment, awareness, timely care, and healthy living remain crucial, Pankaj Dheer legacy will continue with his unforgettable performance and his death shows us the importance of getting timely checkup and treatments.