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Remission - Definition of Breast Cancer Remission

By Pam Stephan, About.com

Updated: July 31, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by V.K. Gadi, MD

Definition: A period of time during which symptoms of a disease are reduced (partial) or undetectable (complete). In the case of breast cancer, remission means that tests and imaging do not show evidence of the cancer, and that a doctor cannot see signs of the cancer during a clinical exam.

It does not mean the same thing as cure because if even one cancer cell is still in your body, the small possibility exists that the cancer may return.
Pronunciation: ree-MISH-un
Common Misspellings: remisshun, remissien
Examples: After chemotherapy, radiation, and five years of hormone therapy, since no symptoms had reappeared, my cancer was pronounced to be in remission.

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