A complete remission is a period of good health when all signs or symptoms of the disease have gone, although if the disease is cancer, there may still be some cancer cells in the body. A partial remission means that some of the signs and symptoms are gone. Sometimes called remission.
Myeloma disease that has either stabilized during active therapy, whereby it has not responded to treatment (ie, the decrease in M protein has not reached 50%) but it has not progressed (gotten worse), or stabilized after therapy has been stopped. In the second case, the myeloma has stabilized in response to therapy. The number and extent of bony lesions is stable and there may be a slight decrease in M protein. Also known as plateau phase.
Blood work shows little variation over time. Stable disease for months or years is common among low-grade chronic leukemias. This condition is sometimes referred to as smoldering disease.
A tumor may shrink, but not enough to be categorized as a partial response (that is, tumor reduction greater than 50 percent). Or a tumor may increase in size, but not enough to be considered progressive disease (that is, tumor growth greater than 20 percent). Such tumors, in which there is no significant change in size, are classified as stable disease.
Cancer activity that does not qualify for remission or progressive status. It is either slowly growing or slowly shrinking but not enough to qualify for either category.
One or more tumors still visible on imaging that are not growing. Stable disease for months or years is common among low-grade NHLs.
The disease does not get better or worse following therapy.
Cancer that is neither decreasing nor increasing in extent or severity.
Cancer that is not decreasing or increasing in extent or severity.