IF (big emphasis on "IF") a recurrence were to occur, at the original tumor site, there is an 80% chance of it happening in the first year.

The second year, the chance or reoccurence drop to 15% at the original tumor site.

From years 2-5 the chance of recurrence drops to 5%. That's why 2 year point is considered by many to be a benchmark year. 5 years really means nothing to patients - it is a number that is utilized by doctors and researchers as a measuring stick.

I could technically tell people that I have achieved 100% complete response to treatment since I have 6 years but I elect to say I am cancer free today.

There is another perspective here as well. All of the preceeding refers to recurrence at the original tumor site. Regional and distant metastesis are also possibilities and they don't fit into the above statistics. They don't do a very good job of checking for regional and even less for distant metastesis.

You will NEVER hear me say I "beat" cancer. It is a formidable opponent and, like all other sources of evil and terror in the world, demands cautious respect.

There are a few here who's tumor actually appeared to be "fueled" by the treatment or it came back with avengence within weeks or months - but that scenario is fairly uncommon.

When your time is up it's up.

Hopefully your mother will have a "complete response" to treatment and not have any regional or distant metastesis like Brian, myself and others here.

Let's celebrate the good news today and hope the negative tests and scans keep repeating as the years pass.

"You can be cancer free but you are never free from cancer"