Cancer and its course

Know how different factors affect recovery and prognosis

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CANCER CAN BE a mysterious disease, not only in knowing what exactly causes and triggers the disease, but also how it is treated and the prognosis.

Different patients face different trajectories of disease, treatment, recovery, remission and prognosis. What are the major factors affecting remission/death besides age and general health? Dr Sandeep Goyle, head, medical oncology, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai, says: Besides age and general health, various other factors affect cancer prognosis:

1. Early diagnosis of the disease can help in curing the patient as treatment can be initiated at an earlier stage.

2. The stage and extent of disease at diagnosis also significantly affects prognosis and chances of remission.