The short answer
Stable disease means a cancer has neither clearly grown nor clearly shrunk since the last scan. It sits between response and progression, and it is often considered a workable, sometimes reassuring result — a sign that treatment may be holding the cancer in check.
Stable disease means the cancer has not clearly grown or shrunk on scans.
It sits between a response (shrinking) and progression (growing).
It is often a workable and sometimes reassuring result.
It can mean treatment is holding the cancer in check.
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The full explanation.
The short version
When your care team reviews scans during treatment, they often sort the result into a few broad categories. "Stable disease" means the cancer has neither clearly grown nor clearly shrunk since the last check. It sits in the middle — between a response (shrinking) and progression (growing).
Why "not changing" can be good news
At first, "stable" might sound disappointing, because it does not describe improvement. But holding steady can be meaningful. If a cancer was growing and treatment brings it to a standstill, that stall can itself be a sign the treatment is doing something. For many people, especially with advanced cancers, keeping the disease from growing is a valued and realistic goal. It is not a setback.
How it is measured
Stable disease is based on comparing the size of the cancer on scans over time. Cancer centers often use a common rule set called RECIST. Under it, stable means the cancer has not shrunk enough to count as a response, and has not grown enough to count as progression. So small changes that fall inside those limits are recorded as stable, not as growth or shrinkage.
How it relates to other terms
- Response means the cancer shrank.
- Stable disease means it held roughly steady.
- Progression means it grew or spread.
Stable disease is also different from remission, which generally describes signs of cancer decreasing or disappearing. Stable disease is a steady state; remission describes improvement.
What to ask
The meaning of "stable" depends on the goal of your treatment. So ask your care team directly. What does stable disease mean for your plan? Was holding steady the aim, or did they hope for shrinkage? Will treatment continue, and when is the next scan? Their reading, alongside how you feel, is what applies to you.
Scans are only part of the picture. If you develop new or worsening symptoms between scans, tell your care team rather than waiting for the next appointment.
Sources
Words to know
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Common questions
Is stable disease good or bad?
It is often considered a reasonable, workable result. Stable disease means the cancer has not clearly grown, which can indicate that treatment is keeping it in check. It is not the same as shrinking, but for many people holding steady is a meaningful goal. Your care team can explain what it means for you.
What is the difference between stable disease and remission?
Stable disease means the cancer is present but not clearly changing in size. Remission generally means signs of cancer have decreased or disappeared. Stable disease is a steady state; remission describes improvement. The terms are used differently depending on the situation.
Does stable disease mean the treatment isn't working?
Not necessarily. Keeping a cancer from growing can itself be a sign that treatment is having an effect. For some cancers, especially advanced ones, stable disease over time is a valued outcome. Your care team can explain the goal of your treatment.
How is stable disease measured?
It is usually based on comparing the size of the cancer on scans over time. When measurements have not increased or decreased beyond set thresholds, the result is called stable. Your care team interprets scans alongside how you feel and other results.
Questions to ask your doctor
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Sources last checked: 2026-08-11 what this meansLast updated: 2026-08-11Next planned review: 2027-07-14
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How this page was created
Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes. We do not employ clinicians and do not intend to — our work is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
Editorial status: Editorial review complete — This page completed Cancer Explained's editorial checks (sources, safety, plain language, duplication). It has not been reviewed by a physician or other healthcare professional.
Human medical review: not completed. Pages here are not signed off by a clinician before they publish. That is not an oversight we are quietly working around: we restate published guidance and cite it, so the authority belongs to the source rather than to us, and every page names where its claims come from — you can verify us instead of trusting us. Where a volunteer clinician has reviewed a page, their name and credentials appear on it; where no name appears, no clinician has checked it. We are glad to have reviewers and are recruiting them, and we do not hold pages back waiting for one. Use this site to understand your situation and to ask better questions of the people treating you.
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