Cancer is not always lethal. Many cancers remain a contained and dormant group of abnormal cells, never progressing to invasive, malignant, or clinical disease. It is estimated that up to 35% of adults over the age of 40 may already have these contained cancers, or carcinoma in-situ. Individuals with these lesions can be said to have ‘cancer without disease.’ This talk will explore the question of what factors contribute to cancer remaining silent, and how can we exploit these factors to extend lifespan and continued good health?
Early detection of in-situ carcinomas carries the risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment, and the future of oncology must challenge and redefine cancer classification and treatment strategies. The next leap forward in cancer care will involve approaches to keep cancer contained, stave off clinical illness, and outlive the disease resulting from cancer.