prognosis

medicine

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

A prognosis is essentially a forecast or prediction about the likely outcome of a situation. While originally a medical term referring to the prospect of recovery from a disease, its meaning has broadened to encompass predictions in various fields, such as economics or climate science.12

In medicine, a prognosis is crucial for understanding the likely course of a disease and a patient's fate. Advances in molecular evaluation, including DNA sequencing and gene activity studies, have significantly improved the ability to predict cancer outcomes and how tumors might respond to specific treatments. This allows for more personalized and effective therapeutic strategies.3

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bone cancer
Diagnosis and prognosis
The prognosis of bone cancer depends on both the type of cancer and the extent to which it has spread. Bone cancer most frequently spreads to the lungs, but it may also spread to other bones and only rarely to other tissues. Overall, the prognosis for…
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The prognosis of bone cancer depends on both the type of cancer and the extent to which it has spread. Bone cancer most frequently spreads to the lungs, but it may also spread to other bones and only rarely to other tissues. Overall, the prognosis for…
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diagnosis
Historical aspects
, prognosis) and less on its diagnosis. A physician’s reputation depended on accurate prognostic skills, predicting who would recover and who would die or how long an illness would last.
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, prognosis) and less on its diagnosis. A physician’s reputation depended on accurate prognostic skills, predicting who would recover and who would die or how long an illness would last.
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