Spontaneous remission does happen, but it's very rare indeed.
William Boyd, a pathologist, documented a large number of such instances in a book he published in 1961. He estimated that approx one in every 100,000 cases of cancer will show spontaneous remission.
In his documentation collected from data extending over 100 years, more than half the proven cases of spontaneous remission came from four types of tumour: renal-cell cancer, melanoma, neuroblastoma and choriocarcinoma. In the other half of the cases, there were one or two examples in almost every type of cancer.
I think it is pegged at about 1 in 100,000 cases. It is called spontaneous remission. Now there are studies that imply that we have micro-tumors which the immune system takes care of, so you could argue everyone cures themselves of cancer, but that isn't really what you are talking about.
Since the most likely reason for a diagnosed cancer disappearing or going into remission would be that that particular person had defenses that overwhelmed it. So the percentage would be extremely small and there would be all kinds of complications to collecting statistics because in each case there might be something that was done to enhance the personal health that is not reported.
Answers & Comments
Yes, but it's so rare that anyone that counts on it happening to them is an idiot.
Spontaneous remission occurs in about 0.0001% of cases.
I would not be counting on those odds to save my life.
Spontaneous remission does happen, but it's very rare indeed.
William Boyd, a pathologist, documented a large number of such instances in a book he published in 1961. He estimated that approx one in every 100,000 cases of cancer will show spontaneous remission.
In his documentation collected from data extending over 100 years, more than half the proven cases of spontaneous remission came from four types of tumour: renal-cell cancer, melanoma, neuroblastoma and choriocarcinoma. In the other half of the cases, there were one or two examples in almost every type of cancer.
No, not really. millions die around the world from cancer.
I wouldn't entertain that idea. Who would want to wait around to see if that will happen,
when chances are it will not. It would be best for anyone who has cancer to get treatment.
I think it is pegged at about 1 in 100,000 cases. It is called spontaneous remission. Now there are studies that imply that we have micro-tumors which the immune system takes care of, so you could argue everyone cures themselves of cancer, but that isn't really what you are talking about.
The only case I have heard of had no proof it had been cancer.
Yes, it happens all the time. Lots of people develop cancers that the body's immune system destroys before anybody knows that the cancer even existed.
Spontaneous remission is possible. Look up the stats, online.
I'm sure they're quite low and very dependent on the type of cancer involved.
Since the most likely reason for a diagnosed cancer disappearing or going into remission would be that that particular person had defenses that overwhelmed it. So the percentage would be extremely small and there would be all kinds of complications to collecting statistics because in each case there might be something that was done to enhance the personal health that is not reported.