EDITORIAL: "Cancer Free"- A Dangerous Phrase?

 By Cheri Ambrose, Founder of the Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance

For more than a decade, Cheri Ambrose has been a relentless voice for a community too often left out of the cancer conversation: men with breast cancer. As the founder of the Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance (MBCGA), she has advocated for education, equality in care, and survivor visibility across genders. In doing so, she has heard thousands of stories from patients and families. But one phrase continues to concern her deeply—two words used too often, too casually, and in ways that may ultimately cause harm: "cancer free."

I remember the first time I heard a survivor say, “They told me I was cancer free. I thought that meant I was done.” Those two little words—cancer free—sound like victory. For patients who’ve endured the brutal rigors of diagnosis and treatment, hearing them feels like a badge of honor, a long-awaited release. But we need to ask: Are we misleading patients into a false sense of security?

Doctors often say it with good intentions: “Your scans are clear. You're cancer free.” But what does that actually mean?

Let me be perfectly clear: There is no universal cure for cancer. Not yet. We have treatments that remove tumors, eliminate cells, and put disease into remission. We have scans that come back clean. But calling someone “cancer free” suggests something permanent—a line in the sand that cancer will never cross again.

In reality, that line is often blurred. Cancer has a notorious ability to return, sometimes years or even decades after initial treatment. And yet, when a patient hears those two words, they may believe they’re “done.” That belief can become dangerous.

❝ I stopped going to follow-ups. I thought I didn’t need to. Nobody explained that 'cancer free' didn’t mean forever. ❞ — David S., male breast cancer survivor

At MBCGA, we’ve seen many patients—especially men—let their guard down after hearing those words. Some stop getting regular checkups. Some abandon medication protocols. Some go back to high-risk habits like smoking, poor diet, or chronic stress. Why? Because they believed cancer was behind them. And many felt blindsided when it came back.

In one study published in the Journal of Oncology Practice, 38% of cancer survivors misinterpreted “no evidence of disease” as being cured.¹ And recurrence is more common than most realize:

• 30% of early-stage breast cancer survivors will experience a recurrence.²

• Recurrence can happen 5–10 years or more after treatment.³

• For men with BRCA2 mutations, the risk of a second primary cancer increases with age and time.⁴

So what should we be telling patients instead?

We need to replace feel-good ambiguity with clear, compassionate truth. “Your scans are clear,” is a great start—but it should always be followed by, “we’ll continue monitoring, because this doesn’t mean you're cured, only that we see no evidence of active disease right now.”

That’s what the term NED—No Evidence of Disease—actually means. Not that cancer is gone forever. Not that it's impossible to return. Just that, for now, we can’t detect it. And vigilance is still essential.

❝ I was healthy, active, and back at work. Then the headaches started… the scan showed bone metastases. I didn’t know recurrence was even possible after five years. I wish someone had told me. ❞

— Mark T., MBCGA community member

Language matters. Survivors need honesty, not euphemisms. They deserve to be educated about what remission, surveillance, and secondary prevention mean.

In fact, many survivorship programs are now integrating "prehab" and "rehab" lifestyle plans, helping survivors stay physically, mentally, and emotionally strong—precisely because the fight doesn’t end at “cancer free.”

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▫ What Do These Terms Actually Mean?

A Brief Survivorship Glossary for Clarity

• Cancer Free: A non-clinical term often used informally; may suggest “cured,” though this is rarely accurate.

• No Evidence of Disease (NED): No detectable cancer at the time of testing. Not the same as cured.

• Remission: A decrease or disappearance of cancer signs and symptoms. Can be partial or complete.

• Recurrence: The return of cancer after a period of NED or remission, either in the same place or elsewhere in the body.

• Metastatic: Cancer that has spread to distant parts of the body. May occur long after initial diagnosis.

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When we fail to define these words, we risk encouraging complacency instead of vigilance. That doesn’t mean we rob survivors of hope—far from it. It means we equip them to thrive in their survivorship journey with eyes wide open.

We’ve made incredible progress in early detection, advanced imaging, and treatment customization. At MBCGA, we advocate for tools like point-of-care ultrasound, genetic predisposition testing, and ongoing survivorship plans for male breast cancer patients. But none of that matters if the messaging to patients remains vague or misleading.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t celebrate milestones. Survivors deserve to ring bells, throw parties, and embrace life. But let’s make sure those celebrations are grounded in truth. Let’s make sure our joy doesn’t become denial.

Let’s stop saying “cancer free” like it’s a destination. It’s a moment—a powerful, hopeful moment—but not the end of the road.

For anyone who's heard those words: stay vigilant. Keep your appointments. Take care of your body. Understand your risk. And ask your doctor to be clear, not just comforting.

For providers: speak carefully. Clarify the terms. Empower your patients with knowledge, not illusion. And for all of us in advocacy: let’s keep pushing for a survivorship culture that’s not just about surviving—but staying aware, informed, and alive.

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Cheri Ambrose is the founder of the Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance, a global advocacy group dedicated to raising awareness, advancing education, and fighting bias in breast cancer care for all genders. Learn more or share your story at www.mbcglobalalliance.org.

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📌 Footnotes:

1. Nekhlyudov, L., et al. (2009). Understanding of Cure Among Cancer Survivors. J Oncol Pract. 5(3): 124–128.

2. American Cancer Society. (2023). Breast Cancer Recurrence.

3. National Cancer Institute. (2022). Recurrence After Treatment.

4. Kuchenbaecker, K.B., et al. (2017). Risks of breast, ovarian, and contralateral breast cancer for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. JAMA.

RECURRENCE PREVENTION SCANNING
By: Dr. Robert L. Bard
After cancer surgery, there are many preventive measures to support a safe and healthy recovery and to reduce the risk of recurrence. The AngioInstitute recommends standardizing a postop maintenance process called RECURRENCE PREVENTION SCANS. Through the use of 3D Doppler Ultrasound, post-cancer surgery patients can subscribe to a regular monitoring program to detect possible lesions and micro-tumors that may have fallen under the radar. Moreover, proactive monitoring can mitigate complications such as post-surgical Infections, recurring Pain, Swelling, neuropathy from nerve damage, Scarring, Fluid buildup or Blood clots. All this can be seen and scanned by a seasoned imaging specialist trained to support postop patient management.

See complete feature and video by:
- Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance
- Dr. Roberta Kline's video report: RECURRENCE EXPLAINED
- Survivor Mike Landesberg Interview