Esophageal cancer is a type of cancer in which abnormal cells in the esophagus (food pipe) grow in an uncontrolled manner. The esophagus is also known as the gullet. The esophagus is a long muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. It is estimated that most people are over the age of 50 when they are diagnosed with esophagus cancer.
Esophagus cancer survival rate by stage
Esophageal cancer life expectancy and survival rate provide probable figures about what number of people with the same type and stage of cancer are still alive usually 5 years after being diagnosed with the disease.
It is estimated that about 43 out of 100 people live for 5 years or more if the cancer is only within the esophagus. About 30/ 40 out of 100 people are associated with localized oesophageal cancer prognosis and may seek medical treatment to cure it. These treatments include chemoradiation and surgery with or without chemotherapy. The Statistics of esophagus cancer survival rate is adapted from the American Cancer Society’s publication, Cancer Facts & Figures 2018.
The treatment results vary slightly for the different types of esophageal cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma
The below data is estimated for people who had gone through the treatment to cure squamous cell tumor.
- About 75% (75 out of 100) people survived for 1 year or more after the diagnosis
- About 50% (50 out of 100) people survived for 2 years or more after being diagnosed with cancer
- About 40% (40 out of 100) people survived for 3 years or more after the diagnosis of cancer
Adenocarcinoma
The below data is estimated for people who had the treatment to cure adenocarcinoma.
- About 80 out of 100 people survived for 1 year or more after the diagnosis
- About 60 out of 100 people survived for 2 years or more
- About 50 out of 100 people survived for 3 years or more
If esophageal cancer has metastasized to the lymph nodes
It is estimated that about 23 out of 100 people survived for 5 years or more if cancer has metastasized to adjacent lymph nodes.
Advanced oesophagus cancer life expectancy
Advanced esophageal cancer means that the tumor has spread to other parts of the body. Most people associated with advanced esophageal cancer usually survived for 3 to 12 months after being diagnosed with the cancer. It is also estimated that about 5 out of 100 people survived for 5 years or more after the diagnosis of advanced esophageal cancer.
Can you survive esophageal cancer? What affects the survival rate?
The esophageal cancer survival depends on the stage of the tumor when it was diagnosed. This means life expectancy depends on how intensified the tumor is and how beyond the cancer has metastasized from its original location that is esophagus. The type of cancer and stage of the tumor cells may also affect oesophagus cancer life expectancy. The overall health and fitness of a person also affect the survival rate. The more you are fit, the better you may be able to respond to the cancer treatment.
