Cancer survival rates are usually discussed in terms of 5-year relative survival, which refers to the proportion of patients still alive five years after diagnosis.
Survival will differ according to the specific type of cancer and its stage. For example, thyroid cancer has an overall, 5-year survival of 98.4%, whereas laryngeal cancer is 61%. Keep in mind that statistics like these are based on large groups of people and cannot predict what might happen with an individual patient.
The National Cancer Institute records survival statistics using these very broad categories:
- Overall survival includes all stages of the disease.
- Localized. The cancer is confined to the primary site.
- Regional. The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
- Distant. The cancer has metastasized to distant body areas.
Below are some of the statistics for specific head & neck cancers.
Survival for oral cavity and pharynx cancer
| Overall | 68% |
| Localized | 86.3% |
| Regional | 69% |
| Distant | 40.4% |
More NCI statistics on oral cavity and pharynx cancer.
Survival for lip cancer
| Overall | 91.4% |
| Localized | 94.1% |
| Regional | 63.4% |
| Distant | 38.1% |
More NCI statistics on lip cancer.
Survival for tongue cancer
| Overall | 68.8% |
| Localized | 84.2% |
| Regional | 69.8% |
| Distant | 40.7% |
More NCI statistics on tongue cancer.
Survival for laryngeal cancer
| Overall | 61% |
| Localized | 78.3% |
| Regional | 46.2% |
| Distant | 33.9% |
More NCI statistics on laryngeal cancer.
Survival for thyroid cancer
| Overall | 98.4% |
| Localized | 99.9% |
| Regional | 98.3% |
| Distant | 53.3% |
More NCI statistics on thyroid cancer.