Survival statistics for laryngeal cancer
Survival statistics for laryngeal cancer are very general estimates and must be interpreted very carefully. Because these statistics are based on the experience of groups of people, they cannot be used to predict a particular person’s chances of survival.
There are many different ways to measure and report cancer survival statistics. Your doctor can explain the statistics for laryngeal cancer and what they mean to you.
Net survival
Net survival represents the probability of surviving cancer in the absence of other causes of death. It is used to give an estimate of the percentage of people who will survive their cancer.
A net survival statistic for laryngeal cancer is not reported separately but is included in the general category head and neck cancer. This broad category includes laryngeal cancer and similar cancers together. So the number does not necessarily show the net survival specifically for laryngeal cancer.
In Canada, the 5-year net survival for head and neck cancer is 64%. This means about 64% of people diagnosed with head and neck cancer will survive for at least 5 years.
Survival by stage and tumour location
Survival varies with each stage and with the tumour location of laryngeal cancer. Generally, the earlier laryngeal cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome.
The 5-year survival rate is the percentage of people who are alive at least 5 years after their cancer diagnosis. But people with this type of cancer may live much longer than 5 years.
There are no specific Canadian statistics available for the different stages and tumour locations of laryngeal cancer. The following information comes from a variety of sources. It may include statistics from other countries that are likely to have similar outcomes as in Canada.
|
Stage |
5-year survival |
|---|---|
|
1 |
90% |
|
2 |
74% |
|
3 |
56% |
|
4 |
44% |
|
Stage |
5-year survival |
|---|---|
|
1 |
80% |
|
2 |
59% |
|
3 |
53% |
|
4 |
34% |
|
Stage |
5-year survival |
|---|---|
|
1 |
65% |
|
2 |
56% |
|
3 |
47% |
|
4 |
32% |
Questions about survival
Talk to your doctor about your prognosis. A prognosis depends on many factors, including:
- your health history
- the location of the tumour
- the stage
- whether or not you continue to smoke
- the treatments chosen
- how the cancer responds to treatment
Only a doctor familiar with these factors can put all of this information together with survival statistics to arrive at a prognosis.