Survival statistics for thymus cancer
Survival statistics for cancer are very general estimates and must be interpreted very carefully. Because these statistics are based on the experiences 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 these statistics and what they mean to you.
Net survival
Net survival represents the probability (chance) 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 cancer.
In Canada, thymus cancer is grouped and reported together with similar cancers in a category called “other endocrine cancers.” The estimated 5-year net survival statistic of 63% does not necessarily reflect the actual survival for the individual cancers within the group. What it means is that about 63% of people diagnosed with these endocrine cancers will survive for at least 5 years.
Survival by stage and type
Survival varies with each stage and type of thymus cancer according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system. Generally, thymoma has a better survival than thymic carcinoma. Often thymic carcinoma grows quickly and is not found until it is at an advanced stage, which can make it more difficult to treat.
There are no specific Canadian statistics available for the different stages and
types of thymus cancer. The following information on
|
TNM stage |
5-year observed survival |
|---|---|
|
1 |
96% |
|
2 |
89.3% |
|
3A |
89% |
|
3B |
71% |
| 4A | 83% |
| 4B | 79% |
| TNM stage | 5-year observed survival |
|---|---|
| 1 | 80-88% |
| 2 | 69% |
| 3A | 57% |
| 3B | 56% |
| 4A | 54% |
| 4B | 33% |
Questions about survival
Talk to your doctor about your prognosis. A prognosis depends on many factors, including:
- your health history
- the type of cancer and the types of cells that make up the tumour
- the stage
- 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.
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