Remission, Recurrence, Resistance
Educational orientation
Source-checked: 2026-06-05. This page explains terms; it does not predict an individual course.
Core Idea
Remission means cancer signs have decreased or are not detectable by the methods being used. Recurrence means disease has returned after a period of control. Resistance means disease does not respond, or stops responding, to a therapy. These words depend on test sensitivity, timing, cancer type, and response criteria.
Cancer can be controlled for long periods in some settings and difficult to control in others. The same word can carry different implications across diseases.
Essential Vocabulary
- Complete response: no detectable disease by defined criteria.
- Partial response: measurable decrease.
- Progression: measurable worsening.
- Minimal residual disease: very low-level disease by sensitive methods.
What This Does Not Mean
"No evidence of disease" is not the same as proof that disease can never return.
Builder/Data Lens
Outcomes need timestamps, assessment method, criteria, and censoring. Response labels without dates are weak data.
Go Deeper
References
- National Cancer Institute. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
- National Cancer Institute. Cancer Clinical Trials Information