Is remission the same as being cured?

Not necessarily. NCI defines complete remission as the disappearance of all signs and symptoms of cancer, although cancer may still be in the body, and says it does not always mean the cancer has been cured. Ask your care team what it means for you.

What is the difference between remission and relapse?

Remission means signs and symptoms of cancer have decreased or disappeared. NCI defines relapse as the return of a disease, or its signs and symptoms, after a period of improvement.

What does partial remission mean?

NCI says partial remission means some, but not all, signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared, or the tumour or extent of cancer has decreased in response to treatment. It is also called a partial response.

Can cancer come back after complete remission?

It can. NCI explains that a small number of cancer cells may survive treatment while being too small to detect, and can grow later. That is why regular follow-up care is recommended.

What Does Remission Mean in Cancer? Partial vs Complete

"Remission" is one of the most hopeful words people hear during cancer care, but it is often misunderstood. This guide explains what doctors mean by partial and complete remission, how remission differs from cure and relapse, and what usually happens next.

For information only - this is not medical advice. What remission means for a particular person depends on the type of cancer, its stage and the treatment, and only that person's care team can explain it. Please ask your doctor about your own situation.

The basic definition

The US National Cancer Institute (NCI) defines remission as a decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer (NCI Dictionary: remission). NCI describes two kinds:

Partial remission - some, but not all, signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared. NCI also describes it as a decrease in the size of a tumour, or in the extent of cancer in the body, in response to treatment. It is also called a partial response.
Complete remission - all signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared, although cancer may still be in the body. NCI adds that this does not always mean the cancer has been cured. It is also called a complete response.

"Signs" here usually means what tests can find - for example on scans, blood tests or examinations - and "symptoms" means what the person notices. A complete remission means doctors cannot currently find evidence of cancer with the tests used, not necessarily that every cancer cell has gone.

Remission is not the same as cure

This is the most common source of confusion. Because NCI states that cancer may still be in the body during a complete remission, and that complete remission does not always mean cure, doctors are often careful with the word "cure". Whether, and when, a doctor would describe a particular cancer as cured depends on the type of cancer and the person's situation, so it is a good question to ask your own care team directly. Be wary of anyone outside your care team who promises that a product or programme will keep cancer in remission or cure it - see our note on alternative treatments.

Other terms you may hear

Doctors use several related words to describe how cancer is responding. These are NCI's patient definitions (NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms):

Stable disease - cancer that is neither decreasing nor increasing in extent or severity.
Progressive disease - cancer that is growing, spreading or getting worse.
Relapse - the return of a disease, or its signs and symptoms, after a period of improvement.
Recurrence - cancer that has come back, usually after a period when it could not be detected. It may return in the same place as the original tumour or elsewhere in the body.
Maintenance therapy - treatment given to help keep cancer from coming back after it has disappeared following the first treatment. Whether this is suitable is a decision for the care team.

Why cancer can come back after remission

NCI explains that recurrent cancer starts with cancer cells that the first treatment did not fully remove or destroy. This does not mean the treatment was wrong: a small number of cells survived and were too small to show up on follow-up tests, and over time they grew enough to be detected (NCI: Recurrent Cancer).

NCI describes three types of recurrence:

Local - in the same place as the original cancer, or very close to it.
Regional - in lymph nodes or tissues near the original cancer.
Distant - in organs or tissues far from the original cancer. This is called metastatic cancer, and it is still named after the original cancer type. Our guide what is metastatic cancer? explains this further.

NCI also notes that a new, different cancer in someone who has had cancer before is called a second primary cancer, which is not the same as a recurrence. If cancer does come back, doctors may repeat many of the original tests and "restage" it; NCI says the original stage at diagnosis does not change. See cancer stages explained.

Follow-up care during remission

NCI says all cancer survivors should have follow-up care - regular check-ups after treatment ends, which may include blood tests and other tests that look for changes in health, and checks for physical and emotional problems that can appear months or years later (NCI: Follow-Up Medical Care).

A follow-up care plan. NCI says you should receive a written plan from your oncologist or treatment team summarising your treatment and recommendations for care afterwards. Keep it with your medical records.
How often. NCI says each person's schedule is different. In general, it describes follow-up visits every 3 to 4 months in the first 2 to 3 years after treatment, then once or twice a year - but your own team will set your schedule.
Report new symptoms. NCI advises telling your doctor about any symptoms, pain or concerns that are new or will not go away. It also notes that a new symptom does not necessarily mean the cancer has come back.
Mention everything you take, including any new medicines, vitamins, herbs or supplements.

Living with uncertainty

NCI notes that the end of treatment can bring relief but also fear and anxiety, and that the most common fear is that the cancer will come back. Some people call the worry around scans "scanxiety". NCI says fear of recurrence is normal and often lessens over time (NCI: Life After Cancer Treatment). Steps NCI suggests include telling your care team about your fears, keeping notes of symptoms and questions, asking for a follow-up care plan, talking to a counsellor if fears feel like too much, and joining a support group. Our guides to finding cancer support and supporting someone with cancer may help you and the people around you.

Questions to ask your care team

Based on NCI's suggested follow-up questions, you might ask:

Is my cancer in partial or complete remission, and what tests showed that?
What does remission mean for my type of cancer?
Which doctor will I see for follow-up care, and how often?
What tests will I need, and how often?
Which symptoms should I report, and who should I contact?
What long-term or late effects of treatment should I watch for?

For more, see our full list of questions to ask your doctor.

This page explains general terms only. It cannot tell you what your own results mean or how likely your cancer is to come back - only your care team can do that. If you notice new or worrying symptoms, contact your care team promptly, and in an emergency contact your local emergency services.

Sources

Published and last reviewed: 21 October 2026.

What does remission mean in cancer?