Does cancer remission mean you are in the clear?

After attending countless appointments, navigating side effects from treatments and crying on many shoulders, hearing the words you are in full cancer remission is a day you will never forget.

Every case is different, and your doctor is best suited to explain what exactly remission means for you. But according to the National Cancer Institute, you are considered in partial remission if you experience less cancer symptoms and full remission if you experience no cancer symptoms.

“It’s important to understand that just because your symptoms are gone and you’re considered in remission doesn’t mean you are necessarily cancer-free,” explains Dr. Kavi Patel, a hematology/oncology physician at Advocate Health Care. “Cancer remission simply means you are receiving treatment that is effectively reducing cancer cells in your body.”

While you may not be totally in the clear, cancer remission is an encouraging step in the right direction. That’s because oncologists will typically consider you cured or “cancer-free” if you are in full cancer remission for five years. Though, it’s still possible you have cancer cells in your body which makes recurrence a possibility.

“Cancer recurrence can occur in the previous spot you had cancer, nearby or in an entirely new organ due to the spread of cancer cells,” Dr. Patel explains.

The good news is that even though you are in remission, you still have a care team keeping an eye on you through regular screenings. The cadence of how often you meet with your doctor and undergo exams depends on the type of cancer you had and how long you have been in remission.

“Your doctors will also help manage any cancer treatment side effects,” Dr. Patel says. “Additionally, they will advise you on how to modify your lifestyle to help decrease the risk of cancer returning.”

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