Bhargav

· 17 Nov 2021

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Survival rate for colon cancer

Survival rates indicate the percentage of persons diagnosed with the same type and stage of cancer who survive for a specified period (typically five years) after diagnosis. They cannot predict how long you will survive, but they can help you understand your treatment's likelihood of success.

Remember that survival rates are estimates and are frequently based on the outcomes of vast numbers of individuals who have had a particular type of cancer in the past. Still, they cannot foretell what will happen in any given person's situation. These figures can be perplexing and may prompt additional inquiries. Consult your physician for clarification on how these figures may apply to you, as he or she is familiar with your circumstances.

What is a 5-year relative survival rate?
A relative survival rate is calculated by comparing individuals with the same kind and stage of cancer to the general population. For example, suppose the 5-year relative survival rate for a particular colon or rectal cancer stage is 80%. In that case, it means that people who have that disease are approximately 80% as likely to survive at least five years after diagnosis as persons who do not have that cancer.

Where do these figures originate?
The American Cancer Society depends on data from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) SEER* database to offer survival statistics for various forms of cancer.

ACCORDING TO THE EXTENT OF CANCER SPREAD, the SEER database analyses 5-year relative survival rates for colon and rectal cancer in the United States. However, the SEER database does not classify tumours according to AJCC TNM stages (stage 1, stage 2, stage 3, etc.). Rather than that, it classifies malignancies into three stages: localized, regional, and distant:

There is no evidence that cancer has progressed beyond the colon or rectum.

Regional: Cancer has spread to neighbouring structures or lymph nodes from the colon or rectum.
Cancer has progressed to distant organs such as the liver, lungs, or distant lymph nodes.

Recognize the numbers
These numbers refer to the stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis. They are not applicable if cancer develops, spreads, or recurs following treatment.
These figures do not include everything.

Although survival rates are classified according to the extent of cancer spread, other factors such as your age, overall health, how well the disease reacts to treatment, and whether cancer began on the left or right side of the colon can also affect your outlook.

Individuals newly diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer may have a better prognosis than these statistics indicate. Treatments improve with time, and these figures are based on those identified and treated at least five years ago.

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