The short answer
Remission means the signs and symptoms of cancer have decreased or disappeared. It can be partial or complete. Cure means the cancer is gone and will not come back. Because that is hard to be certain of, doctors often speak of remission rather than cure.
Remission means the signs and symptoms of cancer have decreased or gone away.
Remission can be partial (some cancer remains) or complete (no signs can be found).
Complete remission is not the same as cure — some cancer cells may remain that tests cannot detect.
Cure means the cancer is gone and will not come back, which can only be judged with time.
Choose how you want to understand this
The full explanation.
The short version
These two words sound similar but mean different things, and the difference matters. Remission means the signs and symptoms of cancer have decreased or disappeared. Cure means the cancer is gone and will not come back. Because it is hard to be certain a cancer will never return, doctors often speak of remission — even long-lasting remission — rather than cure.
What remission means
Remission is good news, and it comes in two forms:
- Partial remission — the cancer has shrunk or decreased, but some remains.
- Complete remission — no signs of cancer can be found with current tests.
Complete remission is sometimes called "no evidence of disease," or NED. It is a hopeful result, but it is not quite the same as cure.
Why complete remission is not the same as cure
Even when no signs of cancer can be found, some cancer cells may remain that today's tests cannot detect. There is no test that can prove that no cancer cells are left anywhere in the body. For that reason, doctors watch over time before using the word "cure," and follow-up visits continue after remission begins.
What cure means
Cure means the cancer is gone and will not return. This can really only be judged with time — as months and years pass without the cancer coming back, confidence grows. Different cancers behave differently, so what counts as a reassuring stretch of time varies.
Living after remission
Many people stay in remission for years, or for the rest of their lives. Because some cancers can return, follow-up care continues so any change can be caught early. Ask your care team whether you are in partial or complete remission, what your follow-up plan looks like, how often you will have check-ups, and which symptoms should prompt a call. Your team can explain what these words mean for your specific situation.
Words to know
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Common questions
▸What does remission mean?
Remission means the signs and symptoms of cancer have decreased or disappeared. In partial remission, some cancer remains but has shrunk. In complete remission, no signs of cancer can be found with current tests. Remission is not the same as cure.
▸Is complete remission the same as being cured?
Not necessarily. Complete remission means no signs of cancer can be found, but some cells may remain that tests cannot detect. That is why doctors watch over time before using the word 'cure,' and why follow-up visits continue after remission.
▸Why do doctors avoid the word 'cure'?
Cure means the cancer is gone and will not return, and that can only be judged with time. Because there is no test that can prove no cancer cells remain, many doctors speak of remission — sometimes long-lasting remission — rather than cure.
▸Does remission mean the cancer will come back?
Not necessarily. Many people stay in remission for years or for the rest of their lives. But because some cancers can return, follow-up care continues so any change can be caught early. Your care team explains what to expect for your situation.
Questions to ask your doctor
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Your next step
Plain-language definitions for both sides of the comparison.
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