Key Statistics About Thyroid Cancer
Papillary thyroid cancer 5-year survival rate*
Stage I — 100%
Stage II — 100%
Stage III — 93%
Stage IV— 51%
*based on patients diagnosed 1998 to 1999
Follicular thyroid cancer 5-year survival rate*
Stage I — 100%
Stage II — 100%
Stage III — 71%
Stage IV— 50%
*based on patients diagnosed 1998 to 1999
Note: All the stage III and IV patients with follicular or papillary thyroid cancer are, by definition, over 45 years old.
You may want to ask your doctor these questions before having a biopsy:
Will I have to go to the hospital for the biopsy?
How long will it take?
Will I be awake? Will it hurt?
Are there any risks? What are the chances of infection or bleeding after the biopsy?
How long will it take me to recover?
Will I have a scar on my neck?
How soon will I know the results? Who will explain the results to me?
If I do have cancer, who will talk to me about the next steps? When?
Medullary thyroid cancer 5-year survival rate**
Stage I - 100%
Stage II - 98%
Stage III - 81%
Stage IV- 28%
**based on patients diagnosed between 1985 and 1991
US Mortality
From 2004-2008, the median age at death for cancer of the thyroid was 74 years of age. Approximately 0.1% died under age 20; 0.8% between 20 and 34; 2.2% between 35 and 44; 7.8% between 45 and 54; 16.9% between 55 and 64; 24.4% between 65 and 74; 30.4% between 75 and 84; and 17.3% 85+ years of age.
The age-adjusted death rate was 0.5 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are based on patients who died in 2004-2008 in the US.
SEER Incidence
From 2004-2008, the median age at diagnosis for cancer of the thyroid was 49 years of age3. Approximately 1.7% were diagnosed under age 20; 16.0% between 20 and 34; 20.8% between 35 and 44; 24.2% between 45 and 54; 18.3% between 55 and 64; 11.4% between 65 and 74; 6.1% between 75 and 84; and 1.4% 85+ years of age.
The age-adjusted incidence rate was 11.0 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are based on cases diagnosed in 2004-2008 from 17 SEER geographic areas.
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
The five-year relative survival rate for anaplastic (undifferentiated) carcinomas, all of which are considered stage IV, is around 7 percent (based on patients diagnosed between 1985 and 1991).
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American Cancer Society