It could mean that your tumor has had a "complete response" (CR)to treatment - which means they killed it dead - period.

"Remission" is used more often for cancers that can be arrested temporarily, such as Hodgkins disease or Leukemia, but may come back requiring another round of treatment. Solid tumors often have a "complete response" to treatment.

A "recurrence" would be a new tumor at the original tumor bed (locoregional).

H&N cancers may metastasize however and start new tumors in regional or distant locations, such as the liver, kidneys, lungs or brain.

I have to admit that we don't see many nasal cavity cancers here. The majority are base of tongue or tonsil.


Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)