Relapse

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For the record label, see Relapse Records.

A relapse (etymologically, "who falls again") occurs when a person is affected again by a condition that affected them in the past. This could be a medical condition such as depression, bipolar disorder, cancer or an addiction to a drug.

For example, if a someone who had problems with alcohol were to give up alcohol and then later start drinking again, this drinking might be considered a relapse.

Relapse is a particularly important term in cancer therapy. For example, after initial treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma, the patient goes into a remission stage. In many cases, the patient is considered treated. It is not possible to completely eradicate cancer from the body (0 cancer cells). If the disease comes back, this is considered a relapse.

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For the Spanish Inquisition, a relapse was a Jew who converted to Christianity and later returned to Judaism. This was considered a sin and punished.