Read article Statistics and outlook for skin cancer
This page is about statistics and what they can tell us about the outlook for people with non melanoma skin cancer. There is information about
Statistics and outlook for skin cancer
Doctors collect statistical information about the different types of cancer and outlook. Outlook means your chances of getting better. Your doctor may call this your prognosis. The cure rates for skin cancers are very high.
- More than 90 out of every 100 people (90%) with basal cell cancer are cured
- 70 to 90 out of every 100 people (70 to 90%) with squamous cell skin cancer are cured. The cure rate for squamous cell cancer diagnosed at an early stage is even higher.
How reliable are statistics?
It is important to realise that statistics are based on large numbers of people. They cannot be used to predict what will happen to you because no two people are alike. Also the response to treatment is different for each person. Cancer statistics are not detailed enough to tell you about the different treatments people may have had.
Your doctor will have all your personal details and is the best person for you to talk to about your prognosis.
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the Treating skin cancer section.
Doctors collect statistical information about the outlook for different types of cancer and treatment. Outlook means your chances of getting better. People who have been diagnosed with cancer are naturally concerned about their outlook for the future. Your doctor may call this prognosis.
The cure rates for non melanoma skin cancers are very high. More than 90 out of every 100 people (90%) with basal cell skin cancer are cured. 70 to 90 out of every 100 people (70 to 90%) with squamous cell skin cancer are cured. The cure rate for squamous cell cancer diagnosed at an early stage is even higher.
Sometimes people will try to use statistics to work out their chances of being cured. But it is important to realise that statistics are based on large numbers of people. They cannot be used to predict what will happen to you because no two people are identical. Also how well treatments work is different for each person. Cancer statistics are not detailed enough to tell you about the different treatments people may have had.
Your doctor will have all your personal details and is the best person for you to talk to about your prognosis.
People treated at centres where there are clinical trials taking place sometimes do better. This may be because that is where the most expertise is concentrated ̶̶ research is more likely to take place in specialist centres. For people in the trials, it may be partly to do with having a closer eye kept on them by doctors ̶̶ more scans and blood tests for example. There is more about clinical trials in the trials and research section.
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