The usual goal of chemotherapy is to rid the body of cancerous cells. In many cases chemotherapy, along with other treatment modalities like radiation therapy and surgery can remove the cancer entirely. In certain rapidly growing cancers, the...

chemotherapy can be expected to halt the progression of the disease. Moreover, in cases where the cancer has metastasized or spread throughout the body, the goal of chemotherapy is palliative. Palliative chemotherapy is not expected to remove of the cancer entirely but rather to reduce the tumor burden and some of the symptoms of the cancer.

 

The goal and expected outcomes from chemotherapy vary widely depending on the type of cancer and degree of spread. Response to chemotherapy is determined by comparing measurements taken before and after the chemotherapy is administered. These measurements can include X-rays or CT scans of the cancer, tumor marker levels in the blood, or other blood tests.

 

In general the response to cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, is called remission. A partial remission means that some of the signs and symptoms of cancer have been reduced and a complete remission means that the cancer is undetectable by various clinical methods. Complete remission does not always mean 100 percent of the cancer cells have been eliminated from the body, but often does. If cancer is becomes detectable after a period of partial or complete remission, it is called a relapse.

 

It is best to discuss the realistic outcomes that can be expected from chemotherapy and other cancer treatments. Optimism is an important part of cancer survival and it is good to maintain it, but it is also useful to know what other people with the same type of cancer and extent of disease have experienced. Your oncologist should be able to provide you with high quality information regarding your expected outcome.