my husband has been fighting cancer for the last three years, he beat the prostate cancer and now its in his bones. I am someone told he that he might Be going through remesshion. and I dont understand ehat that means
Remission is a good thing, it means the cancer is gone, however they will keep a close eye on him with blood tests and such to see if it returns. When I had cancer I had to do a year of blood tests before they could say I was cured. They call it remission cause sometimes it can come back so they cant say at that time that your cured of cancer. They will do tests for a while to make sure its not returning, after that is done then he will be considered cured. Hope this helps and I hope you are both doing well
This term is heard very frequently. It refers to the response of a cancer to the treatment. It dose not mean that a cancer is cured.
*Complete remission refers to the situation where the disease disappears completely with the treatment.
* Partial remission refers to the situation where the disease shrinks but does not disappear completely with the treatment.
Cure means complete freedom from the cancer. To render someone cured of cancer, one has to wait and see if the cancer will ever come back. So, time is the crucial factor. If a patient remains in remission for a few years, the cancer might be cured. Certain cancers can reoccur after many years of remission.
The status of remission is determined by a series of tests and examinations to determine whether a cancer has responded to treatment or not. Patients are examined by the medical oncologist as often as needed. The type of tests performed depend on the kind and extent of cancer. If a cancer that is seen on regular X-rays, or CT Scans, etc., they should be repeated after a while.
Remission, as your previous respondents answered, is a good thing as it means that the cancer is in either a dormant stage or, if you're lucky, might even be slowly dying. However, you have stated that your husband's prostate cancer (PC) seems to have metastisized, or spread, to his bones. This is NOT a good sign . . . you should both consult with his oncologist and get a bone scan at the very least. I would suggest a cat scan as well. From your question I would gather that your husband has had a radical prostatectomy and that his subsequent PSA tests showed a gradual lowering of his androgen/testosterone levels. Is this correct? Then, when he went in for his "Cross Your Fingers" 3rd year test his PSA numbers had jumped, prompting his oncologist to check for metastisis . . . which you say they have found.
I am not a Dr. and my opinions are just that, opinions. However, I do suffer from Stage III metastatic PC (for 3.75 years now) and, through my wonderful oncologist, have learned a lot about PC. My advice to you is to "Run, don't walk" to his Dr. and get this sorted out ASAP! They've been managing my PC with injections of the anti androgen, Lupron, which almost totally shuts down the bodies production of testosterone. Even the tes. that's produced by the adrenal gland which a radical surgery usually leaves in place.
I wish you and your husband the best, he is a lucky man to have a wife like you who cares so much that she has navigated the web in an effort to help him. Please let me hear from you . . . Quincy17
I am sorry to say that if your husband's prostate cancer has returned and is now in his bones he is NOT in "remission", he is in trouble. Did he have his prostate removed? If so, he probably needs to start on anti androgen hormone therapy as I said earlier. I wish you both the best . . . Quincy