relative survival

Relative survival compares the survival for a group of people with cancer to the survival expected for a group of people in the general population who share the same characteristics as the people with cancer (such as age, sex and place of residence).

For example, a 5-year relative survival of 80% means that, on average, people with that particular cancer are 80% as likely to live 5 or more years after diagnosis as people of the same age and sex in the general population.