Use of the Word “Cured” for Cancer Patients—Implications for Patients and Physicians: The Siracusa Charter

Abstract

Long-term survival for adult patients with solid tumours continues to increase. For some cancers, the possibility of recurrence after a number of years is extremely low, and the risk of death becomes similar to that of the general population of the same sex and age. During the Fifth European Conference on Survivors and Chronic Cancer Patients held in Siracusa, Italy, June 2014, oncologists, general practitioners, epidemiologists, cancer patients and survivors, and patient advocates joined to discuss the possible use of the term “cured” in reference to some adult patients with solid tumours. The specific focus was the appropriateness of using the term in communicating with cancer patients, survivors, and their families. Initial results of the discussion, in concert with a review of the published literature on the subject, were later further discussed by all participants through electronic communication. The resulting final statement aims to suggest appropriate ways to use the word “cured” in the clinical and communicative setting, to highlight the potential impact of the word on patients, and to open a critical discussion concerning this timely and delicate matter.

No ‘cure’ within 12 years of diagnosis among breast cancer patients who are diagnosed via mammographic screening: women diagnosed in the West Midlands region of England 1989–2011

“…This has implications for the way in which clinicians, policy makers and public health professionals communicate with patients regarding the long-term prognosis to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. In particular, data such as these question whether a woman diagnosed once with breast cancer can be considered to be disease-free, and increases the importance of using the correct language when communicating with those who have previously been treated for breast cancer [29, 30]. Second, since the pattern is consistent for both screen-detected and non-screen-detected women, our data suggest that screening does not afford protection from long-term excess mortality, even though it is associated with an important and significant survival advantage at all times since diagnosis, independent of lead-time bias [13].…”

Optimizing cancer cure dialog: an analysis of pancreatic cancer patients’ views regarding survival and cure

“…For others, 'survivorship' offers a sense of personal growth and achievement. Terms such as 'cured', 'healed', and remission are more optimistic 25 , but their intended meaning can be misinterpreted. Indeed, this study reveals the range of possible interpretations of "cure" in the context of pancreatic cancer.…”

The Role of Nutritional Support in Cured/Chronic Patients

“…The use of the term “ cured ” for some cancer patients has been proposed in view of increasing survival rates in some cancers [ 10 ]; as reported in the Siracusa Charter “the word cured refers to complete clinical remission of a cancer, regardless of the presence or absence of delayed treatment sequelae”. In order to correctly apply the word “cured,” it is necessary that the time from diagnosis of cancer must be such that the patient’s risk of death does not exceed that of a sex- and age-matched general population.…”