A friend of mine has just been diagnosed with stomach cancer. I am finding reams and reams of information about cancer except what I want to know most: What are the survival rates under various conditions? Is it very survivable, slightly survivable? Is he pretty much doomed? Is there a good chance he could beat it completely and live a normal lifespan?
I need to know. I’m going crazy.
I clecked on great debates instead of general questions. I apologize.
It depends on a lot.
Type of stomach cancer, nodes involved, metastases, location of primary. Even if it occurs in Japan or in the US.
Quick number from Mont Reid Surgical Handbook, Fourth Edition (closest medical book to me at this time) :
5 year survival for adenocarcinoma of the stomach (in the West) :
-Overall 5 year survival : 10-21%
-Resection with curative intent : 20-25%
-Early gastric cancer (no nodes or mets, limited to mucosa or submucosa) : 90%
-Cancer of the cardia (top of the stomach) : <10%
-Linitis plastica (type IV diffusing infiltrating cancer) : <5%
5 year survival for gastric lymphoma : better than adenoCA – 5 year survival 25-50%
5 year survival for gastric leiomyosarcoma : 30-50%
Wish your friend good luck and good health and stregth in fighting the disease.
These are general numbers. Please see the oncologist for the most recent number with the most recent treatments. I am only a medical student.
to answer.
Maybe you can answer this, a more general inquiry: they always talk about 5 year rates. What about 10 year rates? normal lifespan rates?
Girlfriend of mine, her sister hit the 5 year mark after breast cancer…that was about 18months ago. She’s currently dead.
They can’t just assume 5 years = normal lifespan. What other measure are there?
Thanks again!
[Moderator Hat: ON]
At the OP’s request, this is being moved to General Questions.
David B, SDMB Great Debates Moderator
[Moderator Hat: OFF]
I believe the 5-year survival rate was chosen because more often than not if you can make it past 5 year after a diagnosis, you will be OK. However, you can still live for 5 years or more with many types of cancer and still ultimately die from it.
Also as with any statistic, they are presenting averages. Some people are below the average and some people are above. Each case is different.
I suppose it would be nice if every part of the human body and every illness could be nicely quantified, but it can’t. Sometimes, you just have to hope for the best.