What Does "In Remission" Mean?

## What Remission Means Remission means that the signs and symptoms of cancer have decreased — or in some cases, are no longer detectable. It is good news, but it has an important distinction from being cured. ## Types of Remission ### Partial Remission (PR) The cancer has responded to treatment and shrunk significantly (usually defined as ≥30% reduction in tumor size) but has not disappeared entirely. Treatment typically continues. ### Complete Remission (CR) / Complete Response No cancer is detectable on scans, in blood tests, or on physical exam. This is often called being in "complete remission." **Important:** Complete remission does not always mean cured. Some cancers can return even after achieving complete remission. ### NED (No Evidence of Disease) Similar to complete remission. No cancer is detectable with current testing methods. This is the term commonly used after surgery when all visible tumor has been removed. (See our dedicated NED article for more.) ## Remission vs. Cure Cure means the cancer will not return. Remission means the cancer is currently undetectable or significantly reduced. Oncologists are often reluctant to use the word "cure" because: - Cancer can recur years or even decades later - Current tests cannot detect every cancer cell - "Cured" is sometimes declared after a long period (often 5 years) without recurrence For some cancers (like Hodgkin lymphoma or early-stage testicular cancer), achieving complete remission after treatment is functionally equivalent to cure in most patients. For others (like many stage 4 solid tumors), complete remission is achieved less commonly, and even when it is, recurrence is more likely. ## How Remission Is Assessed - **CT or PET scans** — imaging to measure tumor size and metabolic activity - **Blood tests** — tumor markers (like PSA for prostate, CA-125 for ovarian, CEA for colorectal) - **Bone marrow biopsy** — for blood cancers like leukemia - **Liquid biopsy / ctDNA** — emerging tool to detect residual cancer DNA in the bloodstream ## After Remission: Surveillance Once in remission, you enter a surveillance phase — regular check-ups, scans, and blood tests to watch for signs of recurrence. Frequency depends on cancer type and risk of recurrence. It is completely normal to feel anxious during this phase. Many patients describe fear of recurrence as one of the hardest aspects of life after cancer treatment.