Factors Influencing a Pancreatic Cancer Prognosis
The American Cancer Society predicted that 33,730 Americans (17,150 men and 16,580 women) would be diagnosed with
pancreatic cancer in 2006 and that 32,300 American men and women would die of pancreatic cancer during the year.
The pancreatic cancer prognosis will depend on factors such as:
- Whether or not the tumor can be removed by surgery
- The patient's general health
- Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred (come back).
Pancreatic cancer can be controlled only if it is found before it has spread and only if it can be removed by surgery. If the cancer has spread, palliative treatment can improve the patient's quality of life by controlling the symptoms and complications that may develop. However, palliative treatment cannot cure the disease.
Pancreatic Cancer Prognosis: What Are Survival Rates?
Survival rates indicate the percentage of people who survive the disease for a specific period of time after their diagnosis. Often, statistics refer to the five-year survival rate. The five-year survival rate is the percentage of people who are alive five years after diagnosis, whether they have few or no signs or symptoms of cancer, are free of disease, or are receiving treatment. Survival rates are based on large groups of people, and they cannot be used to predict what will happen to a particular patient.
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