what is remission in cancer

Remission in cancer refers to a period when cancer treatment reduces or eliminates the amount of cancer in your body. It can be complete remission, meaning there isn’t any sign of cancer, or partial remission, meaning cancer has decreased or stopped growing. Complete remission means that tests, physical exams, and scans show that all signs of your cancer are gone. Partial remission means that you still have cancer cells in your body, but your situation has improved. Remission from cancer may last for months or years, and it may not mean you’re free of cancer (cured), but it’s an important turning point for you and your cancer care team. During remission, treatment may or may not continue, depending on the type of disease, how fast it grew initially, how advanced it was when doctors first discovered it, its tendency for returning, and the patient’s overall health and treatment goals. If you remain in complete remission for 5 years or more, some doctors may say that you are cured, but there is still a chance that cancer cells could come back, which is why many doctors don’t use the word “cured” .