What can't cancer survival rates tell you?

Cancer survival statistics can be frustrating. The survival rate for people with your particular cancer might be based on thousands of people. So while cancer survival rates can give a general idea about most people in your situation, they can't give your individual chances for cure or remission. For that reason, some people ignore cancer survival rate statistics.

Survival statistics don't take into account other medical conditions you have. If your health is otherwise perfect, you're likely to have a greater chance of survival than the statistics suggest.

If you have other very significant medical conditions, you may not have the chance of survival suggested by the statistics. Your doctor may be able to help adjust the statistics for your specific situation.

Survival rates have other limitations. For instance, they can't:

• Give you information about the latest treatments. People included in the latest cancer statistics were diagnosed more than five years ago. The effects of any recent treatment discoveries won't affect survival statistics for at least five years.
• Tell you what treatments to choose. That's up to you and your doctor. For some people, the treatment with the greatest chance for remission is the one they'll choose. But many people take other factors, such as side effects, cost and the treatment schedule, into their decision.