Some patients will have metastatic disease on initial presentation. Others may present with symptoms of recurrent disease after a previous cancer diagnosis. Access to the best available therapies, including clinical trials, as well as treatment overseen by a multidisciplinary team, are crucial to achieving the best outcomes for anyone with metastatic or recurrent disease.

Signs and symptoms will depend on the type of cancer initially diagnosed and the location of metastatic disease. They may be discovered by the patient or by surveillance in the post-treatment period. Symptoms can often present as new abdominal swelling, altered appetite, altered bowel habit or dyspnoea.

Some cases of recurrent disease will be detected by routine follow-up, such as a rise in the CA125 tumour marker, when the patient may be asymptomatic.