This is the last in a four-part series of articles designed to help people with cancer understand commonly used oncology terms. The following article defines cancer terms that you may hear your doctor use once you have finished treatment.

Cure: To fully restore health. This term is sometimes used when a person's cancer has not returned for at least five years after treatment.

Disease-free survival (DFS): The length of time after treatment during which no cancer is found (complete remission). This term can be used for an individual or for a group of people within a study.

Event-free survival: The length of time after treatment that a group of people in a clinical trial has not had cancer relapse or progression. This term is usually used only in scientific research.

Follow-up care plan: A patient's plan written by his or her oncologist following treatment that summarizes the therapy(ies) and outlines long-term care needs. This may include how often the person needs to see a doctor and any future tests needed. It may also include advice on healthy lifestyle choices, information about available psychosocial services, employment counseling, and access to health insurance.

Late effects: Side effects of cancer treatment that appear months or years after treatment has ended. This may include physical and mental problems, as well as development of secondary cancer.

Progression-free survival: The length of time during and after treatment that the cancer does not progress or grow.

Recurrence: Cancer that has returned after a period of time when the cancer could not be detected. Local recurrence means that the cancer has come back to the same place as the original cancer. Regional recurrence refers to cancer that has come back after treatment in the lymph nodes near the original cancer site. Distant recurrence is when cancer spreads after treatment to other parts of the body.

Relative survival: The length of time after treatment that a person with cancer lives, excluding all other causes of death but cancer.

Remission: The disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer but not necessarily the entire disease. The disappearance can be temporary or permanent. Complete remission means all known tumors have disappeared. Partial remission refers to a greater than 50% reduction of tumor mass.

Additional resources

National Cancer Institute—Dictionary of Cancer Terms

American Cancer Society—Glossary

Stedman's Medical Dictionary

More Information

Read the other three parts in this feature series.

Part I: Cancer Terms to Know: Basic Oncology Terms

Part II: Cancer Terms to Know: Newly Diagnosed

Part III: Cancer Terms to Know: During Treatment

Medical Dictionary Resources

Last Updated: November 07, 2006