The term "remission" is something many of us have heard when it comes to the treating cancer. But do you really know what it means?

Ten years ago Patsy Kitchens received some birthday news she wasn't expecting. "I found out on my 45th birthday that I had breast cancer."

Patsy was fortunate however, her cancer was diagnosed at an early stage, she received treatment and now she's in remission. Radiologist Mary Kay Peterson explains, "Remission means that the cancer is at bay, that the patient has been treated. It's been excised, been surgically taken out, radiated, chemotherapy. But it means, the cancer is gone. Will it be gone forever? No way of knowing. Could it be? Absolutely it could be."

Your cancer going into remission is not just based on the treatment or the diagnosis that makes the difference, it's all the factors combined. Dr. Peterson says "In addition to the medical side of it, there's also the support side. Particularly in our community, we are very fortunate that there are several support groups."

Patsy tells us, "We don't know why we have to go through these things in our lives but maybe it's so that we can encourage others, and I really kind of follow that."

For more information on cancer and to find a support group in our area you can call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.

Some support groups are just for patients but most groups encourage families and friends to participate along with the cancer survivor.