When an aggressive cancer is discovered

[mortpes]

They cannot find cancer. The tests that indicate cancer is gone are false. We do not have the technology to discover cancer cells and eliminate cancer cells on a cellular level.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by mortpes

They cannot find cancer. The tests that indicate cancer is gone are false. We do not have the technology to discover cancer cells and eliminate cancer cells on a cellular level.

Its certainly true that technology can't detect individual cancer cells, but they can detect colonies of cancer cells if they reach a certain critical mass.

And there are tests, depending on the cancer, which can clue the physicians into realizing there are cancer cells left even if they can't see them.

That's why your oncologists do follow ups, they can never be totally certain, cancer usually doesn't "return", a positive followup test often just means they didn't get it all the first time.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

cancer usually doesn't "return", a positive followup test often just means they didn't get it all the first time.

Often the cells that have been resistant to the particular chemotherapy or radiation survive, divide and spread. So yes, in a sense, the cancer can "return."