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Difference between remission & cancer-free?
Kidney Cancer | Last Active: Feb 4 2:01pm | Replies (2)Comment receiving replies
Great question, @gangcarotid1. Here's a good article from MD Anderson that helps to explain.
- Remission, cancer-free, no evidence of disease: What’s the difference? https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/remission--cancer-free--no-evidence-of-disease--what-is-the-difference-when-talking-about-cancer-treatment-effectiveness-and-results.h00-159460845.html
Health care professionals tend to use remission or no evidence of disease (NED) rather than cancer free. Remission and NED both mean that scans, blood tests, etc indicate that there is no detectable trace of cancer in the body.
Cancer free or cure are used less often (almost never) by medical professionals. Even when tests indicate no detectable sign of cancer, it can still return or be undetectable. So technically NED is the most accurate.
I'm throwing confetti and celebrating your recent 3 month followup results. When is your next followup appointment?
Replies to "Great question, @gangcarotid1. Here's a good article from MD Anderson that helps to explain. - Remission,..."
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Thank you! I was quite relieved. They did find a nodule in the lower part of my right lung (if kidney cancer decides to go elsewhere, lungs are 1 of the most likely places), and are also watching a 1.3cm cyst on my other kidney. Going back mid-May, my surgeon said.
However, we will also be going back earlier than May; have a checkup scheduled w Dr Bancos (endocrinologist) & team for the tumor on my carotid artery, to see if it's changed. Dealing w it was put on a back burner when the kidney tumors were found. Consensus of team was the carotid paraganglioma was likely benign, and is (was?) small. Glad to be developing a Plan to deal w it.
Again, Colleen, thank you for your emotional support and all you do!