There has been little progress in the treatment of metastatic cancer over the past ten years.
This is apparent from a report by the Comprehensive Cancer Center of the Netherlands (IKNL). For example, it appears that half of people who have metastatic cancer live six months or less. That is only a month longer than ten years ago, NOS.nl reports.
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One in five patients in whom a tumor is found has metastases. The largest group with metastatic cancer has lung cancer. Survival rates for these patients have improved little over the past ten years. In metastatic esophageal cancer and bladder cancer, the survival rate has not improved at all.
But it's not all bad news. Those with prostate cancer, breast cancer or melanoma do have more perspective. These patients can sometimes experience a good quality of life for many years to come.
