Cancer remission can be partial, complete, or spontaneous. For cancer to be in remission, a decrease in cancer signs for at least a month must be observed. Cancers in remission, however, may come back or recur.
Cancer remission occurs when the signs and symptoms of cancer have lessened or become undetectable for at least a month. However, being in remission is not the same as being cancer free.
There are 3 different types of remission:
- Partial: A reduction of at least
50% in measurable tumor size or cancer cells. - Complete: All detectable evidence of cancer is gone.
- Spontaneous: Cancer enters remission without therapy that’s considered adequate to otherwise lead to remission. This is rare and usually happens after a fever or infection.
Remission isn’t a cure, and it doesn’t mean that you’re cancer free. Some cancer cells may remain — and start growing again — even in complete remission.
Depending on the type of cancer, remission may be determined by:
During treatment, your doctors will closely monitor the cancer so they can see any reduction in cancer signs. This reduction must last
Because cancer cells are still in your body even when you’re in remission, you might have treatment during remission. This reduces the risk that the remaining cancer cells will start growing again.
The most common type of remission treatment is maintenance chemotherapy, or chemo
Maintenance therapy is less intensive than adjuvant treatment, but it’ll likely still have side effects. You should communicate all side effects with your clinical team and request support for daily living.
They may lower the amount of treatment you get or take you off of maintenance therapy to protect your quality of life.
Maintenance therapy may become less effective over time, in which case your doctor may stop the therapy to make sure the cancer doesn’t become resistant to chemo.
Whether or not you have treatment during remission, your doctors will watch you closely to make sure the cancer doesn’t become active again.
For some people, cancer remission can last a lifetime. Others may have their cancer come back, which is called a recurrence.
There are 3
The chance of recurrence depends on many factors, including:
- the type of cancer you had
- what stage the cancer was found in
- your overall health
There’s no way to say for sure if your cancer will come back. However, cancers that were diagnosed in later stages or cancers with lymph node involvement are more likely to recur.
The outlook depends on the cancer type.
The most common statistic is a
A
Since remission doesn’t mean you’re cured, these statistics provide an idea of the outlook for that type of cancer. But they don’t consider whether you’re in remission or undergoing treatment.
The 5-year relative survival rate for the 5 most common types of cancers, according to the American Cancer Society, are:
| Cancer type | All stages combined | Localized | Regional | Distant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28% | 65% | 37% | 9% | |
| 91% | 99% | 86% | 31% | |
| 63% | 91% | 73% | 13% | |
| 97% | greater than 99% | greater than 99% | 34% | |
| 36% | 75% | 35% | 7% |
Regardless of cancer type, early detection of recurrence is very important. If found early, local recurrences may be curable. A distant recurrence is less likely to be cured, but early detection can help stop it from spreading further.
If you’re in remission, your doctor should regularly check for new signs of cancer.
Supporting your overall health is the best way to reduce your risk of a recurrence or a second cancer. This means:
- maintaining a moderate weight
- eating a balanced, nutritious diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
- staying physically active as much as you can
- avoiding smoking, if you smoke, or finding a smoking cessation program
- drinking alcohol in moderation (no more than
1 drink daily for women and no more than 2 daily for men) - taking care of your mental health, whether it’s making time for hobbies you enjoy or joining a cancer support group
Cancer remission doesn’t mean your cancer is cured, but it’s an important milestone. In some cases, your cancer may never come back. In others, it may recur.
Even in remission, it’s important to follow all of your doctor’s instructions and monitor any potential cancer symptoms closely.
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