The original cause of many cancers is unknown. There are a number of contributing factors that can be associated with most forms of cancer. Although many people can make remarkable recoveries or keep their cancer in remission, many people also die within five years of diagnosis. The reasons for cancer deaths are varied, and some have nothing to do with the cancer itself.
Initial Stage at Diagnosis
A cancer diagnosis is usually categorized by stages, with stage 0 being the existence of cancerous cells to stage 4, the advanced stage that usually indicates a spread of cancer throughout the body. At stage 3, cancer cells have spread to nearby areas, but not necessarily to other organs or systems in the body. Most cancer patients that are initially diagnosed at stage 4 have a very slim percentage of surviving beyond five years of diagnosis, known as the 5-year survival rate.
Types of Cancer
Some types of cancer, no matter when diagnosed, have a very low 5-year survival rate to begin with. This usually has to do with the location of the cancer. For example, pancreatic cancer has a high mortality rate because initial symptoms are rarely felt by patients. Yet the pancreas aids in the digestion of all consumed foods. A cancerous pancreas can keep a patient from getting all the proper nutrients that would be needed to fight cancer cells, thus severely weakening the patient long before the cancer is even discovered. According to the American Cancer Society,the 5 year survival rate is 4 percent.
Inadequate Treatment
For people who cannot afford health care, getting treated for cancer may rely on poorly trained physicians or facilities that lack the proper equipment for treatment. For other patients, reaching the best facilities is nearly impossible, depending on the stage of the cancer or current patient condition. This can be the case in third-world countries or even sections of the United States. Fortunately there are many non-profit organizations that can help fund treatment for the patient or research that leads to better treatment options.
Missed Diagnosis
Patients with other diseases can often harbor cancer but have it missed during initial diagnosis. For example, patients with emphysema already have infected lungs; sometimes so full of fluid they can obscure an X-ray from showing a cancerous tumor growth. Cancer can virtually "hide" cells that rapidly grow or expand after recovery from an initial cancer. Missed diagnosis can also occur because the cancer is rare, such as Leiomyosarcoma, a cancer of the smooth muscle cells.
Patient's Wishes
Some patients fight the concept of death from cancer at every turn. But some patients dealing with stage 4 terminal cancer, especially those suffering from unbearable pain, may simply see death as the optimal choice. Rather than waiting in pain to die, Stage 4 terminal patients may choose palliative care or hospice care, which can make the imminent death more bearable for them and loved ones. Treatment for these patients involves pain and symptomatic management versus attempts to kill cancer.
Tags: survival rate, 5-year survival, 5-year survival rate, cancer cells, five years