Looking for Cancer Survival Information?
A common question for people recently diagnosed with cancer is: “what is the survival rate for this specific type of cancer?” Cancer survival rates are generally reported as the average number of patients who are still alive 5 years after diagnosis. For instance, the latest reported survival rate for people who lived at least five years after being diagnosed with stage IIA breast cancer is 92%.
Cancer survival rates are dependant on many factors including the location of the cancer, the stage of cancer, whether or not the cancer is affecting organs in the body and how early the cancer was diagnosed and treated. Additional statistics may vary depending upon the age and overall health of the patient. A doctor will often be able to provide more detailed cancer survival statistics for your specific case.
Overall cancer survival rates do not provide details about the people who were included in the report. In example, the overall survival rate does not provide age, medical history or details about the patients included in the report. Furthermore, the overall cancer survival rate does not provide information on the number of patients who are still undergoing treatment and the number who are in remission after the five year period.
There are steps you can to reduce your risks of cancer. Limiting alcohol consumption to 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women will help reduce your risk of certain types of cancer. Quitting smoking will also help reduce your risk of cancers. Eating a healthy diet that is rich in antioxidant foods (antioxidants are found in many fruits and vegetables) may help reduce your risk of cancer and may improve your cancer survival rate. Studies show that maintaining a healthy body weight puts less stress on your body’s organs and helps reduce your risk of certain diseases (including cancer).
FacetoFace Health Cancer Support Groups
Cited References:
Mayo Clinic
St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital
Imaginis
National Cancer Institute
National Coalition of Cancer Survivorship
American Cancer Society