While you might think a cancer diagnosis is a single, grim statistic, survival rates tell a more nuanced and often hopeful story, with figures ranging from nearly 100% for early-stage breast and prostate cancers to the sobering challenges of pancreatic and lung cancers.
Key Takeaways
- The 5-year relative survival rate for localized female breast cancer in the United States (diagnosed 2014-2020) is 99.3%
- The 5-year relative survival rate for regional female breast cancer in the United States (diagnosed 2014-2020) is 86.4%
- The 5-year relative survival rate for distant female breast cancer in the United States (diagnosed 2014-2020) is 30.8%
- The 5-year relative survival rate for localized non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the US (2014-2020) is 63%
- 5-year survival for regional NSCLC in US (2014-2020) is 34%
- Distant NSCLC 5-year survival in US is 8% (2014-2020)
- The 5-year relative survival for localized colorectal cancer in the US (2014-2020) is 91%
- Regional colorectal cancer 5-year survival in US is 72% (2014-2020)
- Distant colorectal cancer 5-year survival is 15% (US 2014-2020)
- The 5-year relative survival for localized prostate cancer in the US (2014-2020) is 100%
- Regional prostate cancer 5-year survival in US is 100% (2014-2020)
- Distant prostate cancer 5-year survival is 34% (US 2014-2020)
- The 5-year relative survival for pancreatic cancer localized in US (2014-2020) is 44.3%
- Regional pancreatic cancer 5-year survival US 16.3% (2014-2020)
- Distant pancreatic 5-year survival 3.4% (US)
Cancer survival rates improve dramatically when caught early and localized.
Breast Cancer
- The 5-year relative survival rate for localized female breast cancer in the United States (diagnosed 2014-2020) is 99.3%
- The 5-year relative survival rate for regional female breast cancer in the United States (diagnosed 2014-2020) is 86.4%
- The 5-year relative survival rate for distant female breast cancer in the United States (diagnosed 2014-2020) is 30.8%
- The 5-year relative survival rate for all stages of female breast cancer in women under 50 in the UK (2016-2020) is 92%
- Age-standardized 5-year net survival for breast cancer in women aged 15-99 in Australia (2014-2018) is 90.8%
- The 10-year relative survival rate for localized breast cancer in Japanese women (2006-2008) is 98.5%
- 5-year survival rate for HER2-positive breast cancer treated with trastuzumab in Europe (2005-2012) is 87%
- The 5-year overall survival for triple-negative breast cancer in the US (stage I-II) is 91%
- In Canada, the 5-year net survival for breast cancer diagnosed 2015-2017 is 88.6% for females
- 5-year relative survival for breast cancer in Black women in the US (2014-2020) is 82.7%
- For women over 75 with early-stage breast cancer in the US, 5-year survival is 92.1% (2014-2020)
- In Germany, 5-year relative survival for breast cancer (2015-2020) is 90.2%
- The 5-year survival rate for DCIS breast cancer in the US is nearly 100%
- In India, 5-year survival for breast cancer stage III is 52% (urban centers, 2010-2015)
- Sweden's 10-year breast cancer survival rate (2010-2015) is 84%
- For BRCA1 mutation carriers with breast cancer, 5-year survival is 88.5% (US cohort 2000-2015)
- In France, 5-year standardized survival for breast cancer is 91% (2018 data)
- 5-year survival for inflammatory breast cancer in the US is 41% (all stages)
- Brazil's 5-year survival for localized breast cancer is 92.1% (2000-2015)
- In the Netherlands, 5-year relative survival for breast cancer improved to 92% by 2015-2019
- For Asian/Pacific Islander women in US, breast cancer 5-year survival is 95.1% (2014-2020)
- Italy's 5-year net survival for breast cancer (2013-2015) is 88%
- 5-year survival for male breast cancer in US is 88.1% (localized)
- In South Korea, breast cancer 5-year survival rose to 93.4% (2014-2018)
- US Hispanic women breast cancer 5-year survival is 90.2% (2014-2020)
- 5-year survival for Paget disease of the breast is 85-90% if underlying DCIS (US data)
- In China, urban breast cancer 5-year survival is 82.1% (2003-2005 cohort)
- Norway's 5-year breast cancer survival is 92.8% (2017-2021)
- For postmenopausal women on hormone therapy, breast cancer survival is 89% at 5 years (UK study)
- 5-year relative survival for breast cancer in US white women is 92.0% (2014-2020)
Breast Cancer Interpretation
These numbers tell a clear and crucial story: catching breast cancer early is a near-guarantee of survival, while letting it spread turns the odds into a terrifying coin toss.
Colorectal Cancer
- The 5-year relative survival for localized colorectal cancer in the US (2014-2020) is 91%
- Regional colorectal cancer 5-year survival in US is 72% (2014-2020)
- Distant colorectal cancer 5-year survival is 15% (US 2014-2020)
- Overall 5-year survival for colorectal cancer in UK (2016-2020) is 60%
- Australia's 5-year survival for colorectal cancer (2014-2018) is 69.8%
- In Canada, colorectal cancer 5-year net survival (2015-2017) is 65.1%
- 5-year survival for rectal cancer localized in US is 89% (2014-2020)
- Germany's 5-year relative survival for colorectal cancer is 65% (2015-2020)
- Japan colorectal cancer 5-year survival is 66.5% (2010-2014)
- Sweden colorectal 5-year survival 70% (2010-2015)
- Stage II colon cancer 5-year DFS 80-85% with adjuvant chemo (US trials)
- France colorectal cancer 5-year survival 67% (2018)
- Italy 5-year net survival colorectal cancer 66% (2013-2015)
- South Korea colorectal 5-year survival 72.8% (2014-2018)
- China colorectal 5-year survival 56.9% urban (2003-2005)
- Norway colorectal 5-year survival 71% (2017-2021)
- US Black patients colorectal 5-year survival 59% (2014-2020)
- Netherlands colorectal 5-year survival 65% (2015-2019)
- For MSI-high colorectal cancer, 5-year survival 75% stage II-III (US)
- Brazil colorectal 5-year survival 62.6% (2000-2015)
- India stage III colorectal 5-year survival 45% (2010-2015 urban)
- 5-year survival post-liver metastectomy from colorectal ca is 50-60% (Europe)
- Elderly (>80) localized colorectal 5-year survival 75% (US SEER)
- Women colorectal cancer 5-year survival 64% vs men 60% (US)
- Right-sided colon cancer 5-year survival 62% vs left 70% (US data)
Colorectal Cancer Interpretation
These numbers tell a sobering but clear story: catching colorectal cancer early is your best shot, as the survival rate plummets from a hopeful 91% when it's local to a grim 15% once it spreads, highlighting a crucial gap between what's possible and the uneven reality across nations and demographics.
Lung Cancer
- The 5-year relative survival rate for localized non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the US (2014-2020) is 63%
- 5-year survival for regional NSCLC in US (2014-2020) is 34%
- Distant NSCLC 5-year survival in US is 8% (2014-2020)
- Overall 5-year survival for lung cancer in UK (2016-2020) is 18%
- In Australia, 5-year survival for lung cancer (2014-2018) is 19.6%
- 5-year survival for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) limited stage in US is 29% (2014-2020)
- Extensive stage SCLC 5-year survival in US is 3% (2014-2020)
- In Canada, lung cancer 5-year net survival (2015-2017) is 19.3%
- 5-year survival for lung cancer in never-smokers in US is 25% (SEER data)
- Germany's 5-year relative survival for lung cancer (2015-2020) is 20.1%
- In Japan, 5-year survival for lung cancer improved to 33% (2010-2014)
- Sweden's 5-year lung cancer survival is 22% (2010-2015)
- For stage I NSCLC treated with SBRT, 5-year survival is 80-90% (US meta-analysis)
- In France, lung cancer 5-year survival is 17% (2018)
- Italy's 5-year net survival for lung cancer (2013-2015) is 16%
- South Korea lung cancer 5-year survival is 30.4% (2014-2018)
- In China, lung cancer 5-year survival is 19.7% (urban, 2003-2005)
- Norway's lung cancer 5-year survival is 24.5% (2017-2021)
- For EGFR-mutant NSCLC with TKIs, 5-year OS is 35% (global trial)
- US Black patients lung cancer 5-year survival is 16% (2014-2020)
- In the Netherlands, lung cancer 5-year survival is 21% (2015-2019)
- Adenocarcinoma lung cancer 5-year survival 25% vs squamous 15% (US)
- Brazil lung cancer 5-year survival is 15.2% (2000-2015)
- For elderly (>75) with early lung cancer, 5-year survival 55% post-surgery (US)
- India lung cancer 5-year survival stage IV is 5% (urban 2010-2015)
- 5-year survival for resected stage IIIA NSCLC is 36% (US data)
- In women, lung cancer 5-year survival is 25% vs 18% in men (US 2014-2020)
Lung Cancer Interpretation
The stark drop in survival rates from localized to distant lung cancer paints a grim but crucial map, reminding us that early detection isn't just a cliché—it's the chasm between a 63% chance and an 8% chance.
Other Cancers
- The 5-year relative survival for pancreatic cancer localized in US (2014-2020) is 44.3%
- Regional pancreatic cancer 5-year survival US 16.3% (2014-2020)
- Distant pancreatic 5-year survival 3.4% (US)
- Overall liver cancer 5-year survival UK 20% (2016-2020)
- Leukemia all types 5-year survival US 65.7% (2017-2021)
- Acute myeloid leukemia 5-year survival 31.9% (US adults)
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma 5-year survival 74% US (2017-2021)
- Ovarian cancer localized 5-year survival 93.2% US (2014-2020)
- Bladder cancer localized 5-year 70% US
- Kidney cancer 5-year survival 76.4% US overall (2014-2020)
- Brain cancer 5-year survival 36.4% US (2017-2021)
- Thyroid cancer 5-year survival 98.4% US (2014-2020)
- Melanoma localized 5-year 99.6% US
- Esophageal cancer 5-year survival 21.7% US overall
- Stomach cancer localized 75.3% 5-year US
- Uterine corpus 5-year survival 81.8% US
- Multiple myeloma 5-year survival 59.8% US (2017-2021)
- Soft tissue sarcoma 5-year 65.3% US localized
- Testicular cancer 5-year 95.3% US overall
- Oral cavity cancer 5-year localized 84.6% US
- Cervical cancer localized 91.2% 5-year US
- Hodgkin lymphoma 5-year 89.1% US
- Mesothelioma 5-year survival 12.4% US
Other Cancers Interpretation
This data paints a stark and geographically inconsistent map of human vulnerability, reminding us that the battleground of cancer is not just in the body, but in the organ itself, where a tumor in the thyroid is nearly a guarantee while one in the pancreas remains a profound threat.
Prostate Cancer
- The 5-year relative survival for localized prostate cancer in the US (2014-2020) is 100%
- Regional prostate cancer 5-year survival in US is 100% (2014-2020)
- Distant prostate cancer 5-year survival is 34% (US 2014-2020)
- Overall 5-year survival for prostate cancer in UK (2016-2020) is 88%
- Australia prostate cancer 5-year survival (2014-2018) is 95.1%
- Canada prostate 5-year net survival (2015-2017) is 94.3%
- Germany's 5-year relative survival prostate cancer 92% (2015-2020)
- Japan prostate 5-year survival 97.6% (2010-2014)
- Sweden prostate 5-year survival 95% (2010-2015)
- Low-risk prostate cancer active surveillance 10-year metastasis-free survival 98% (US)
- France prostate 5-year survival 94% (2018)
- Italy prostate 5-year net survival 91% (2013-2015)
- South Korea prostate 5-year survival 97.4% (2014-2018)
- China prostate 5-year survival 58.1% (2003-2005 urban)
- Norway prostate 5-year survival 96% (2017-2021)
- US Black men prostate 5-year survival 96.5% (2014-2020)
- Netherlands prostate 5-year survival 94% (2015-2019)
- Gleason 6 prostate cancer 15-year prostate cancer-specific survival 97% (US)
- Brazil prostate 5-year survival 88.4% (2000-2015)
- High-risk prostate cancer 5-year biochemical recurrence-free survival 70% post-RP (Europe)
- Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer median OS 30 months with novel agents (global)
- Men over 75 localized prostate 5-year survival 100% (US SEER)
- PSMA PET-guided salvage RT improves 3-year freedom from progression to 74% (US trial)
- 10-year CSS for intermediate-risk prostate cancer is 95% (US cohorts)
- India prostate cancer 5-year survival stage III 60% (urban 2010-2015)
Prostate Cancer Interpretation
It's sobering to realize that while prostate cancer is overwhelmingly survivable when caught early, geography and access to care still write the final chapter for far too many men.
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