Cure

In medicine, “cure” is the aim of treatment to remove disease and restore health. This can be achieved by natural antibiotics (for bacterial infections), synthetic antibiotics like sulphonamides or fluoroquinolones, antivirals for a few viral diseases, antifungals to treat fungal infections, gene therapy, surgery and radiotherapy. Yet, “magic bullets” are rare and many diseases remain incurable. In this context, it is helpful to distinguish between cure and therapy (Broadbent, 2024).

It is important to understand that, even when a doctor describes you as “cured” of cancer, the medical evidence only shows that your cancer has stopped growing or spreading for five years or more. This is a very significant milestone, but it is not a guarantee that your cancer won’t return or that you will live without symptoms for the rest of your life.

It is possible to control your cancer symptoms and improve your quality of life through lifestyle changes. Eating a healthy diet, with lots of vegetables and fruit and not too much fat, can help reduce your risk. You can also lower your risk by avoiding processed meats, as these contain compounds that raise the risk of developing cancer.