According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year-out survival rate for stage 3C colon cancer is 44% based on data collected between 1991 and 2000. If I had been stage 4, the rate drops to 8%. Thank god we cought it before it went to stage 4! They say that since then, treatments have improved and so these numbers should be going up. And there’s also factors they haven’t broken out such as age, general health, and complications. So I believe my chances are much better than the 44% predicted, but it does give one pause.
2008.08.28
Prognosis: by the numbers
One of the biggest questions on any cancer patient’s mind is “what are the chances I’m going to beat this thing? How have others done?” Well, let me be the first to say that you need to take any statistics you see with a grain of salt and analyze them with a critical mind. And even though statistics should only be used as a guide, and everyone is an individual, and only your doctor can give you the best advice about your prognosis, fuck it, let’s look at some numbers anyway, shall we? more…
