As the name suggests, the cancer in your body has lessened. Either the tumor size has shrunk or there is less cancer found throughout your body. It has not all disappeared from view at this point. Each form of cancer has its own statistics, but generally speaking, a tumor must shrink by 50% and stay that way for 6 months. Now comes a "new" definition of an old term: Because we want clinical trials to look like they hold promise, "partial remission" has been redefined to mean a 30% reduction, not 50% as with "accepted" treatments. So when you review a clinical trial on a new drug, WOW, YOU GOT A PARTIAL REMISSION MORE QUICKLY THAN EXPECTED! WHAT A BREAKTHROUGH! Except it is not comparing apples to apples.
A decrease in the size of a tumor, or in the extent of cancer in the body, in response to treatment. Also called partial response.
Shrinkage or partial disappearance of tumor, but with evidence that some of the tumor still exists.
The term used when a cancer has shrunk in size (usually at least in half) but has not totally disappeared. The cancer can still be detected, and other treatments may be recommended.
The shrinking, but not complete disappearance, of a tumor in response to therapy. also called partial response.