The Seven Most Treatable Cancers

Cancer is a disease that causes cells to grow and multiply uncontrollably in certain parts of the body. It can start in one part of the body and then spread to other areas.

Despite significant investment and years of research, cancer remains the leading cause of death. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 10 million cancer deaths in 2020, or nearly 1 in 6 deaths from the disease globally.

There are more and more treatments for different types of cancer. Illustration: Vithas

Successful treatment can remove all signs of cancer from a person's body. However, cancer can return after remission, sometimes many years later.

Many factors influence the success of cancer treatment, including the type of cancer.

To assess differences in treatment prospects between types of cancer, researchers often use a statistic called the 5-year survival rate. This number refers to the proportion of people who are alive 5 years after being diagnosed with cancer.

Of course there are many other factors that influence survival, such as how early the disease is detected.

According toMedical News TodayHere are the 7 cancers with the highest 5-year survival rates:

Breast cancer

The 5-year survival rate for breast cancer diagnosed at stages 0 and 1 is 99-100%.

Stages describe the size and location of the tumor. Stage 0 refers to the growth of abnormal cells in the tissue or lobules in the breast. At this stage, doctors do not consider it cancer.

In stage 1 breast cancer, tumors are usually smaller than 2cm and have not spread to other areas of the body.

Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer has a 99% five-year survival rate if it is detected in stages 1 and 2. It grows very slowly or does not grow at all and is treatable. Prostate cancer that does not grow in size will be monitored over time to see if it changes or spreads.

Testicular cancer

The 5-year survival rate for people with testicular cancer is 99% for localized tumors and 96% for tumors that have spread to tissues or lymph nodes near the testicle.

In the early stages, doctors can remove one or both testicles to treat the disease. However, this solution becomes less effective when the cancer has spread.

Thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer has a 98-100% five-year survival rate if detected in stages 1 and 2. The thyroid gland, located in the neck, produces hormones to support body functions.

Most thyroid cancers grow slowly, which gives patients more time to treat them. Even if the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues in the throat, thyroidectomy can be an effective treatment.

Melanoma

Melanoma has a 5-year survival rate of about 99% if detected in stage 1. The disease can often be identified and treated in its early stages, which increases a person's chances.

However, if not detected early, melanoma can spread below the skin's surface and become more difficult to remove.

Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer has a 92% five-year survival rate for all localized stages. Early detection allows doctors to treat abnormal cells before they grow or spread to other areas of the body. Even in the later stages of cervical cancer, when cancer cells grow very slowly, treatment can still be effective.

Hodgkin's lymphoma

The disease has a 5-year survival rate of about 92-95% if the disease is recorded in stages 1 and 2. This type of cancer has a relatively high survival rate due to its good response to radiation therapy. Even in the late stages, patients still have hope.