What does it mean when your doctor says cancer is cured?

The term 'cure' is used to describe a state where there is no evidence of cancer in the body at the end of treatment. Complete response is a term often used to describe this type of response or outcome. However, because many cancers can recur, cure is usually described as freedom from disease for at least 5 years. Sometimes doctors will use the word 'remission' instead of cure; 'partial remission' means the cancer has partially responded, but there are still signs of it present in the body, while 'complete remission' means there are no signs of cancer in the body. These terms can mean different things, depending on the specific diagnosis.

**Five-year survival rate

**The 5-year survival rate is a measure of the percentage of people who are still alive 5 years after a diagnosis of cancer. It's an important statistic to know because it gives you an idea of your chances of survival.

The 5-year survival rate for all types of cancer is about 68%, according to the American Cancer Society. This means that about 68 out of every 100 people who are diagnosed with cancer will still be alive 5 years later.

The 5-year survival rate varies depending on the type of cancer. Some cancers, such as breast and colon cancer, have very high survival rates, while others, such as pancreatic and lung cancer, have very low survival rates.

The 5-year survival rate is just an estimate, and it's important to remember that individual cases may vary. Some people who are diagnosed with cancer may live longer than 5 years, while others may not.