Surveillance...Just don't understand the Math

[djmac]

Hi All,

Here's a question... If Stage I Seminoma is 95% survival after 5 years, and Stage II seminoma is only 70%-90% survival, then why is it that people on a surveillance protocol still supposedly have 95% survival? In other words, if I'm on surveillance and relapse, will I not have progressed to Stage II disease to treat the relapse?

Thanks,

djm

[Michael112]

My asumption is, Because usually if your 1st diagnosed with stage 2 the spread is large tumors and the cancer is usually a faster seminoma.
But, if you get upstaged to stage 2 during survalience they see the tumours while there small and for you to be initialy diagnosed as stage 1 then the seminoma would more likely be less agressive.

[Scott]

It's because so many people on surveillance are already cured and never do have a recurrence.

[dadmo]

These numbers can be tricky to understand but Scott is right. What they are saying is that 95% are cured right away. Of the 5% that relapse the cure rate is 70-90%.