Imagine this: while catching breast cancer early can mean a survival rate over 99%, that number plummets to just over 30% once it has spread, a stark gap that defines the modern story of cancer survival where stage, subtype, and access to care shape your odds as powerfully as the diagnosis itself.
Key Takeaways
- The 5-year relative survival rate for localized breast cancer in the United States (2014-2020 data) is 99.3%.
- The 5-year relative survival rate for regional breast cancer in women under 50 in the US is 86.5%.
- For distant metastatic breast cancer, the 5-year survival rate among US females is 31.9% (SEER 2014-2020).
- The 5-year relative survival rate for localized prostate cancer in the US (2014-2020) is 100%.
- Regional prostate cancer 5-year survival rate is 100% per SEER data (2014-2020).
- Distant stage prostate cancer has a 5-year survival of 34.5% in the US.
- The 5-year survival rate for localized non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is 65% (US 2014-2020).
- Regional NSCLC 5-year survival is 37% per SEER data.
- Distant metastatic NSCLC has 9% 5-year survival in the US.
- The 5-year relative survival for localized colorectal cancer is 90.4% (US 2014-2020).
- Regional colorectal cancer 5-year survival rate is 72.3% per SEER.
- Distant stage colorectal cancer has 16.6% 5-year survival in the US.
- The 5-year survival for localized pancreatic cancer is 44.3% (US 2014-2020).
- Regional pancreatic cancer 5-year survival is 16.2% per SEER data.
- Distant pancreatic adenocarcinoma has 3.4% 5-year survival.
Cancer survival rates vary widely by type, stage, location, and treatment.
Breast Cancer
- The 5-year relative survival rate for localized breast cancer in the United States (2014-2020 data) is 99.3%.
- The 5-year relative survival rate for regional breast cancer in women under 50 in the US is 86.5%.
- For distant metastatic breast cancer, the 5-year survival rate among US females is 31.9% (SEER 2014-2020).
- In the UK, the 10-year net survival rate for breast cancer diagnosed in 2010-2011 is 78% for females.
- Age-standardized 5-year survival for breast cancer in Australia (2014-2018) is 90.8%.
- For HER2-positive breast cancer with targeted therapy, 5-year survival exceeds 90% in early stages (US data).
- Black women in the US have a 5-year breast cancer survival rate of 81.6% compared to 91.4% for white women (2014-2020).
- In Japan, 5-year survival for stage 0 breast cancer is nearly 100% (2006-2008 data).
- European age-standardized 5-year survival for breast cancer (2000-2007) averaged 81.6%.
- For triple-negative breast cancer, 5-year survival is 77% for localized disease (US).
- Overall US cancer 5-year relative survival (2014-2020) improved to 68.7%.
- From 1975-2020, US cancer 5-year survival rose from 49% to 68%.
- Pediatric cancer 5-year survival in US now exceeds 85% (2015-2020).
- Women with stage 0 breast cancer have 5-year survival of 100% (US SEER).
- Inflammatory breast cancer 5-year survival is 41% (US data).
- Male breast cancer 5-year survival is 89.9% overall (US 2014-2020).
- In Canada, breast cancer 5-year net survival is 89.6% (2014-2018).
- BRCA1 mutation carriers have 5-year survival of 88% for breast cancer.
- Post-mastectomy radiotherapy boosts 10-year survival by 5% in node-positive cases.
- Endocrine therapy improves 15-year survival by 3.8% in ER-positive breast cancer.
- Ductal carcinoma in situ breast cancer 5-year survival 98.9% (US SEER).
- Lobular breast cancer 5-year survival 90.2% vs 91.5% ductal.
- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy response: 5-year survival 92% pathologic complete response.
- In India, breast cancer 5-year survival 66.1% urban areas (2018).
- DCIS treated with lumpectomy + radiation: 10-year survival 98%.
- Paget's disease of nipple 5-year survival 85-90% (US data).
- Younger women (<40) breast cancer 5-year survival 84% (US).
- 20-year survival for early breast cancer 78.4% with tamoxifen (EBCTCG).
Breast Cancer Interpretation
While these numbers showcase remarkable progress against cancer, they also serve as a stark reminder that our survival too often depends on a brutal lottery of geography, genetics, stage, subtype, and the persistent shadow of health inequities.
Colorectal Cancer
- The 5-year relative survival for localized colorectal cancer is 90.4% (US 2014-2020).
- Regional colorectal cancer 5-year survival rate is 72.3% per SEER.
- Distant stage colorectal cancer has 16.6% 5-year survival in the US.
- UK 10-year net survival for colon cancer (2010-2011) is 59%.
- Rectal cancer 5-year survival in Australia (2014-2018) is 68.5%.
- Screening-detected colorectal cancer has 5-year survival over 90% (US).
- Black patients with colorectal cancer have 5-year survival of 62.3% vs 66.1% whites.
- In Europe, 5-year survival for colorectal cancer (2000-2007) is 56.3%.
- MSI-high colorectal tumors have 5-year survival of 75% vs 60% for MSS.
- Colon cancer localized 5-year survival 92.2%, regional 71.5% (recent US).
- Right-sided colon cancer 5-year survival 64% vs 72% left-sided.
- KRAS wild-type colorectal cancer with EGFR inhibitors: survival benefit 4 months.
- In Germany, colorectal cancer 5-year survival 66% (2019).
- MSI-high metastatic colorectal cancer immunotherapy: 5-year survival 33%.
- Total mesorectal excision rectal cancer 5-year survival 75% locally advanced.
- Stage II colorectal cancer 5-year survival 82.3% (US).
- Adjuvant FOLFOX stage III colon cancer 5-year DFS 72%.
- Liver metastases resection colorectal cancer 5-year survival 58%.
- In UK, bowel cancer 5-year survival improved to 59% (2016-2020).
- Cetuximab + chemo KRAS wt mCRC median survival 28 months.
- Watch-and-wait rectal cancer 5-year local regrowth-free 78%.
Colorectal Cancer Interpretation
The cold, hard truth of these numbers is that catching colorectal cancer early is an almost assured victory, while letting it slip into the shadows turns the fight into a brutal, and often losing, battle of inches.
Lung Cancer
- The 5-year survival rate for localized non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is 65% (US 2014-2020).
- Regional NSCLC 5-year survival is 37% per SEER data.
- Distant metastatic NSCLC has 9% 5-year survival in the US.
- Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) limited stage 5-year survival is 30%.
- UK 10-year net survival for lung cancer (2010-2011) is 14%.
- Australian 5-year survival for lung cancer (2014-2018) is 23.2%.
- Smokers with lung cancer have 5-year survival of 18% vs 24% for never-smokers (US).
- In Japan, 5-year survival for stage I lung cancer is 82.1% (2015 data).
- Women with NSCLC have 5-year survival of 28% vs 23% for men (US).
- Targeted therapy for EGFR-mutant NSCLC boosts 5-year survival to 40% in advanced stages.
- Stage IA NSCLC 5-year survival is 90% (US SEER 2014-2020).
- Stereotactic body radiotherapy for early-stage NSCLC: 5-year survival 71%.
- ALK-positive NSCLC with inhibitors: 5-year survival 60% advanced disease.
- In France, lung cancer 5-year survival 18% (2018 data).
- Never-smokers lung cancer 5-year survival 28.8% (US).
- Immunotherapy (pembrolizumab) median survival 30 months in PD-L1 high NSCLC.
- SCLC extensive stage 5-year survival 3% (US SEER).
- Stage IIIB NSCLC 5-year survival 17% (US SEER).
- ROS1 fusion NSCLC crizotinib median PFS 19 months.
- Combined chemo-immunotherapy NSCLC OS 17.1 months median.
- In Brazil, lung cancer 5-year survival 16.5% (2018).
- Adenocarcinoma lung cancer 5-year survival 28% vs 19% squamous (US).
- Prophylactic cranial irradiation SCLC survival benefit 5% at 3 years.
Lung Cancer Interpretation
These statistics paint a stark, stage-by-stage map of lung cancer survival where the battleground is won or lost in the early margins, yet even in advanced disease, a few precise keys—like targeted therapies—can unlock doors once thought firmly shut.
Pancreatic Cancer
- The 5-year survival for localized pancreatic cancer is 44.3% (US 2014-2020).
- Regional pancreatic cancer 5-year survival is 16.2% per SEER data.
- Distant pancreatic adenocarcinoma has 3.4% 5-year survival.
- UK 1-year net survival for pancreatic cancer (2016-2020) is 25.7%.
- Australian 5-year survival for pancreatic cancer (2014-2018) is 11.4%.
- Resectable pancreatic cancer post-surgery has 5-year survival of 28%.
- Black patients with pancreatic cancer have 5-year survival of 9.6% vs 11.8% whites.
- In Japan, 5-year survival for stage I pancreatic cancer is 50.2% (2015).
- Neoadjuvant therapy improves pancreatic cancer 5-year survival to 38% for borderline resectable.
- FOLFIRINOX neoadjuvant improves pancreatic cancer R0 resection to 70%.
- Stage I pancreatic cancer 5-year survival 42% post-resection (US).
- Gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel median survival 8.5 months metastatic pancreatic.
- In Italy, pancreatic cancer 5-year survival 10.9% (EUROCARE).
- BRCA2-mutant pancreatic cancer PARP inhibitor olaparib: survival benefit 7 months.
- Adjuvant mFOLFIRINOX 5-year survival 53.5% resected pancreatic cancer.
- Head of pancreas tumors 5-year survival 10% vs 5% body/tail.
- Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors grade 1 5-year survival 97%.
- FOLFIRINOX metastatic pancreatic median OS 11.1 months.
- Stage IIA pancreatic cancer 5-year survival 39.1%.
- In Australia, pancreatic cancer 3-year survival 18.3% (recent).
- Neoadjuvant therapy borderline resectable pancreatic 5-year survival 47%.
- Gemcitabine monotherapy metastatic pancreatic median survival 5.7 months.
Pancreatic Cancer Interpretation
The statistics for pancreatic cancer survival are a stark reminder that our best medical achievements, from early detection in Japan to aggressive chemotherapy regimens like FOLFIRINOX, are still desperately fighting an uphill battle against a disease that remains far too lethal.
Prostate Cancer
- The 5-year relative survival rate for localized prostate cancer in the US (2014-2020) is 100%.
- Regional prostate cancer 5-year survival rate is 100% per SEER data (2014-2020).
- Distant stage prostate cancer has a 5-year survival of 34.5% in the US.
- In the UK, 10-year net survival for prostate cancer (2010-2011) is 78%.
- Australian 5-year survival for prostate cancer (2014-2018) is 95.1%.
- Men over 75 with localized prostate cancer have 5-year survival of 99.8% (US).
- Black men in the US have a 5-year prostate cancer survival rate of 96.8% vs 99.1% for whites.
- In Canada, 5-year net survival for prostate cancer (2014-2018) is 94.3%.
- European 5-year survival for prostate cancer (2000-2007) is 87.9% age-standardized.
- Gleason score 6 prostate cancer has 10-year survival near 99% with treatment.
- Gleason 8-10 prostate cancer 5-year survival is 95.7% localized (US).
- Active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer yields 97% 10-year survival.
- Radiation therapy for intermediate-risk prostate cancer: 5-year survival 99%.
- In Sweden, prostate cancer 10-year relative survival is 87% (2017 data).
- PSMA-targeted therapy improves survival in metastatic prostate cancer to 18 months median.
- Hispanic men prostate cancer 5-year survival 96.5% (US SEER).
- Robot-assisted prostatectomy 5-year biochemical recurrence-free survival 90%.
- ADT plus docetaxel extends survival in high-risk prostate cancer by 17 months.
- Low-risk prostate cancer 15-year prostate cancer-specific survival 94%.
- High-risk prostate cancer with brachytherapy: 10-year survival 76%.
- Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer enzalutamide median survival 32 months.
- In China, prostate cancer 5-year survival 93% (2020 registry).
- Hypofractionated radiation 5-year survival 98% low-risk prostate.
- Salvage prostatectomy 5-year biochemical control 60% post-radiation failure.
Prostate Cancer Interpretation
This data declares, with almost cheeky optimism, that the secret to surviving prostate cancer is catching it before it throws a going-away party for your other organs.
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