Residual cancers refer to cancer cells that remain in the body after treatment. The word "residual" is spelled as /rɪˈzɪdʒuəl/, with the stress on the second syllable. The initial "r" is pronounced with a slight trill, and the "i" in both "residual" and "cancers" is pronounced with a short "ih" sound as in "it". "Cancers" is spelled as /ˈkænsərz/, with the stress on the first syllable and the "a" pronounced with a short "ae" sound as in "cat".
Residual cancers refer to the presence of cancer cells or tumor remnants that remain after initial treatment, such as surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. These residual cancer cells may have survived the primary treatment and can potentially continue to grow and spread, leading to disease recurrence or progression.
Residual cancers can occur if the initial treatment was unable to completely eradicate all cancer cells or if some cells developed resistance to the treatment. Factors contributing to the presence of residual cancers include the size and location of the tumor, its genetic characteristics, and the effectiveness of the chosen treatment modality.
Monitoring the presence of residual cancers is crucial in cancer management as it informs treatment decisions and follow-up care. Methods commonly used to detect minimal residual disease or residual cancer cells include imaging techniques (such as computed tomography scans, positron emission tomography scans, or magnetic resonance imaging) and laboratory tests (such as blood tests, biopsies, or molecular testing). These methods help to assess the extent of remaining cancer and guide the selection of additional therapies, such as adjuvant chemotherapy or targeted therapies, to reduce the risk of disease recurrence or progression.
Addressing residual cancers can be challenging because these cells may have acquired resistance to previously effective treatments. Therefore, personalized treatment approaches that target specific molecular alterations or pathways in the remaining cancer cells are often employed to increase treatment effectiveness and improve patient outcomes.
The word "residual" comes from the Latin word "residuus", which means "left over" or "remaining". The term "cancer" originated from the Latin word "cancer" and the Greek word "karkinos", both of which refer to a crab. The ancient Greeks named the disease "karkinos" because the swollen blood vessels around a tumor reminded them of the shape of a crab.
When combined, the term "residual cancers" essentially refers to cancer cells or tumors that remain after a course of treatment or surgery. These are cells or tumors that were not completely eliminated or destroyed during the initial treatment and may require further intervention or monitoring.