The word cure carries multiple meanings, including the process of healing and the act of curing. It is important to distinguish the meanings of these terms so that physicians can communicate effectively with patients. Cure can be used to describe a medication, a surgical operation, or a lifestyle change that alleviates or resolves a medical condition. A cure does not necessarily imply a permanent elimination of the disease, as the patient may recur. For example, the common cold can be treated with medications and the patient may still have a risk of developing future cases. Similarly, a cancer survivor who remains free of disease for five years may be considered cured, but it is likely that the tumor will return if the cancer is not controlled.
Patients value being freed from their disease identity and may gain significant meaning from cures that improve their quality of life, increase lifespan, or reduce morbidity (e.g., the treatment of hepatitis C). However, the impact of this change is more limited for cures that leave patients with substantial tissue damage that was already caused by their disease (e.g., a cure for HIV or sickle cell disease).
Faculty also have varying expectations about what is possible with medical therapy. The distinction between cure and treatment is important for patients to understand so that they can make informed decisions about their healthcare journey and have realistic expectations for their condition.