what does this all mean? Excellent question my friends, but first, a long over due update;
My last bone scan in January was clean of any signs of recurrence/metastasis of prostate cancer, and my PSA blood work still shows no significant increase - remaining at near non-detectable levels. This news, along with the long awaited and slow return of my energy levels, is all very positive. I'm finally beginning to feel like "myself" again. My next blood test is in mid-April, along with follow-up appointments.
So back to our question of the day, "What is remission?" According the the American Cancer Society:
"Some people think that remission means the cancer has been cured, but this is not always the case. Remission is a period of time when the cancer is responding to treatment or is under control. In a complete remission, all the signs and symptoms of the disease go away and cancer cells cannot be detected by any of the tests available for that cancer. It is also possible for a patient to have a partial remission. This is when the cancer shrinks but does not completely disappear. Remissions can last anywhere from several weeks to many years. Complete remissions may go on for years and over time be considered cures. If the disease returns (recurs), another remission may be possible with further treatment."
So basically this reminds us that at this time there is no true "cure" for cancer - any cancer. For nearly every cancer patient, and their loved ones - no matter the type of disease, there is the possibility that the cancer can return at nearly any point in time. Of course, we all live with the hope and faith that if cancer ever returns we can once again fight the beast off and return to living our lives once again.
I have not yet heard the words "cured" or "remission" from any of the doctors I have been treated by, but the tests results since my surgery have all been good news. I suppose that there is some standard period of time that needs to pass before anyone will utter any term like that - two years, five years, 10 years . . . In the meantime you just do everything you're supposed to do - eat healthy, get lots of rest, stay/get fit, take your meds and see the doctor(s) every 3 months.
There's also the hope that comes with the months and years that pass where there are no signs of re-occurrence. In that time, we all hope that science and medicine have made forward progress in the detection and treatment of cancer that will ultimately improve a patients' chance of a long and healthy life.
We either have be designated clear of cancer - or are able to live with it under managed medical care and medications. No matter what, we are thankfully given another chance - and it's time to live life again. It's almost Spring.
Cheers!
I have not yet heard the words "cured" or "remission" from any of the doctors I have been treated by, but the tests results since my surgery have all been good news. I suppose that there is some standard period of time that needs to pass before anyone will utter any term like that - two years, five years, 10 years . . . In the meantime you just do everything you're supposed to do - eat healthy, get lots of rest, stay/get fit, take your meds and see the doctor(s) every 3 months.
There's also the hope that comes with the months and years that pass where there are no signs of re-occurrence. In that time, we all hope that science and medicine have made forward progress in the detection and treatment of cancer that will ultimately improve a patients' chance of a long and healthy life.
We either have be designated clear of cancer - or are able to live with it under managed medical care and medications. No matter what, we are thankfully given another chance - and it's time to live life again. It's almost Spring.
Cheers!
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