How do doctors determine what stage cancer is in and how long a patient has to live?
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The stage of the cancer depends on the size of the tumors and whether or not it has spread. Stage 4 cancer means it has already spread to other organs.
As for the survival rate, that’s where it gets a little complicated. It’s not just a percent chance of survival, but it’s a percent chance of survival for X years. For example, you might have a 75% chance to survive for 5 years. This is going to be based off of data comparing other people who have had a similar cancer and their outcomes.
Now what does the survival rate actually mean? Well, even when an early stage cancer is treated, there is a possibility that cancer cells were missed, or had already spread in your body. Even when treated, there is a decently high chance that the cancer was never fully defeated, and it will take a certain amount of time to grow back from individual cells into something that actually kills you. That’s why an individuals cancer is never really “cured”.
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