Survival Rate

Stomach cancer is one of the most fatal type of cancer. It causes 1 million deaths annually worldwide and is the 4th most common cancer in the world. The survival rate mostly depends on the location condition of the cells, age, and the stage of development of the cancer. Once patients are diagnosed with stomach cancer, they usually live up to only about 6 months. It accounted for about 6.3% (1500) out of 23,965 deaths in Malaysia for the year 2002.  

The 5-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. The overall 5-year relative survival rate of people with stomach cancer in the United States is about 28%. If the cancer cells are not spread to the lymph node, the 5-year survival rate will be increased.  Some can live much longer than 5 years and some are even cured.

The 5-year survival rates for stomach cancer by stage are shown in the table below. These data are obtained from the National Cancer Institute's SEER database and are based on people diagnosed with stomach cancer and treated with surgery between 1991 and 2000.

Stage IA	71%
Stage IB	57%
Stage IIA	45%
Stage IIB	33%
Stage IIIA	20%
Stage IIIB	14%
Stage IIIC	9%
Stage IV	4%