Survivorship of Cancer Patients Who Choose Chemotherapy

“Chemo” is usually administered in combination with other treatments such as radiotherapy, immunotherapy or surgery. It is not actually possible to isolate the survivorship rate of chemotherapy specifically.

While calculating the bottom line chemotherapy percentages of success may not be easy, studies in Australia and the United States may provide general estimates.

At best, this is only a general view of survival in patients with cancers often treated with chemotherapy.

Here are the survivorship statistics for cancers selected by the American Cancer Society. These statistics are part of the 2019-2021 Cancer Treatment & Survivorship Facts & Figures report.

Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer has a five-year survival rate of 77%. It can be detected at “stage 0,” which is noninvasive and confined to the bladder’s inner layer. Roughly 47% of cases are found at this stage. At stage 0, there is a survival rate of 95%.

Breast Cancer

Chemotherapy is often used for breast cancers found in later stages. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 90%.

Colorectal Cancers

The five-year survival rate for stage 3 colorectal cancer is 68%. For stage 4, it is 12%.

Thyroid Cancer

Chemotherapy is rarely needed for thyroid cancer. Most cases, about 97%, are papillary or follicular carcinomas. These types can often be cured with radioactive iodine.

Just 3% are medullary or anaplastic carcinomas, which are tougher to treat.

• Medullary carcinomas need total thyroid removal. If surgery isn’t possible, chemotherapy is an option.

• Anaplastic carcinomas are usually widespread by diagnosis. For these, chemotherapy or radiation is common.

The overall five-year survival rate for thyroid cancers is 98%. The survival rate for those diagnosed in stages 1-3 is near 100% and about 71% for stage 4.

The five-year survival rate is 90% for medullary carcinoma and 7% for anaplastic carcinoma.
Reasons to reject chemotherapy were: