Recurrence is most serious within 2 years after rectal cancer surgery. Rectal cancer patients are most prone to recurrence and metastasis within 2 years after surgery, which is closely related to the patient’s pathological stage and pathologic staging. The most common time of recurrence is within 2 years after surgery. after 5 years, the risk of recurrence is reduced. That is why 5 years is generally taken as the time point for clinical cure. The recurrence rate is generally lower in patients with stage I cancer, and may recur in a shorter period of time after surgery in the case of patients with stage III or stage IV cancer or patients with poorer health. In addition, undifferentiated or low-differentiated cancers are more malignant than highly differentiated cancers, so the recurrence rate is also high. Patients need adjuvant treatment such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy after rectal cancer surgery to reduce recurrence and metastasis and improve the cure rate. It is suggested that patients should follow the doctor’s requirements for regular review after surgery, so as to detect the problems in time and treat them in time to prolong the survival period.