Can I Survive Laryngeal Cancer? What Is My Prognosis?
Survival rates show the percentage of people with a certain type and stage of cancer who survive it for a certain period of time after they are diagnosed. A 5-year survival rate is the percentage of people who are alive 5 years after they are diagnosed. These are the people it includes.
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Those who are free of disease (there are no signs of cancer)
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Those who have few or no signs or symptoms of cancer
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Those who are being treated for cancer
Many people included in the 5-year survival rate live much longer than 5 years after diagnosis. Also, because the statistic is based on people diagnosed and initially treated more than 5 years ago, it’s possible that the outlook could be better today. People who are newly diagnosed often have a more favorable outlook. That’s because of improvements in treatment.
Survival rates are based on large groups of people. They cannot be used to predict what will happen to a particular person. No 2 people are exactly alike. Treatment and responses to treatment vary greatly.
Online Medical Reviewer:
Carr, Ellen RN, MSN, AOCN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Lee, Nancy MD
Date Last Reviewed:
10/26/2005
Date Last Modified:
2/1/2006