Help understanding statistics and studies

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Canada777
Posts: 62
Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2016 6:24 pm

Help understanding statistics and studies

Postby Canada777 » Thu Aug 10, 2017 2:52 pm

Hi all - I know that I need to interpret survival statistics cautiously as everyone is different and treatment is always improving.

However, what I'm curious about is the studies when they compare group A who gets chemo only and group B who gets chemo and surgery. In the conclusions they usually say group A lived a year on average and group B two years (for example). When are they counting this survival time from - diagnosis? Surgery?

Thanks!
DH dx. Stage 4 Colon cancer with Peri mets Dec '15 @ age 29
12 Rounds FOLFOX & then successful HIPEC in 2016. Diagnosis changed to appendix cancer.
Recurrence to pelvis 9 months later.
Years of chemo.
At rest. Sept 2021.

KElizabeth
Posts: 400
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2015 12:41 pm
Facebook Username: KElizabeth
Location: Omaha

Re: Help understanding statistics and studies

Postby KElizabeth » Fri Aug 11, 2017 12:48 am

I believe it is either from the diagnosis or it's 1 year more than if you had done nothing. I could be way off. Either way the statistics don't help. They are very often wrong and they are not worth too much attention.
A positive attitude and calmness go a long way to help. Best wishes on your journey.
KE
Female age 39- ,2 teens.
Colon Cancer - DX March 2013
Age 34 at DX - Stage III B
Resection surgery -May 2013
FOLFOX - June, 2013 to Sept, 2013
5FU plus leukavorin Sept, 2013 to Dec, 2013
METs liver and lungs discovered Sept, 2015
KRAS - MSS
FOLFIRI plus Avastin - Sept, 2015 - July 2017
Durvalumab and Cediranib Sept 2017 Dec 17
FOLFOX with desensitization protocol - current

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ANDRETEXAS
Posts: 662
Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2014 11:01 am
Location: Austin, Texas (University of Tennessee alumnus)

Re: Help understanding statistics and studies

Postby ANDRETEXAS » Fri Aug 11, 2017 10:01 am

I would not concern myself with survival statistics. There are so many factors (many unrelated to you) that go into statistics that make them useless in an individual diagnosis. Stay positive, take one day at a time and exercise if and when possible.......and don't forget to come here with comments and questions.... Andre
2/10/14 - Colon resect
2/13 - DX- Stage IIIb
6 of 18 lymph nodes cancerous
3/7 - Port placed
3/11 - FOLFOX (12 rds w/full oxi)
8/14 - Chemo finish
8/25 - CT- Inc
9/5 - clean PET
12/10- clean CT

3/2/15 - Clean colonoscopy & port removed
3/4 - clean CT
9/21- clean CT

3/23/16 - clean CT

2/22/17- clean CT

3/21/18 - clean CT
4/1 - clean colonoscopy

3/11/19 - clean CT
9/23 - Five-year release - Annual visits now !

4/13/23 - clean colonoscopy

ONE DAY AT A TIME !

Deb m
Posts: 558
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:08 am

Re: Help understanding statistics and studies

Postby Deb m » Fri Aug 11, 2017 10:29 am

I think the clock starts ticking right after surgery, that is assuming they got it all with surgery, if not then the clock doesn't start to tick till they get you in remission.

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JJH
Posts: 408
Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2017 7:26 am

Re: Help understanding statistics and studies

Postby JJH » Sat Aug 12, 2017 1:34 am

A classic article on the topic of statistics and cancer is the one entitled, "The Median Isn't the Message." This article is worth reading in order to understand why we should not pay much attention to survival statistics,

http://cancerguide.org/median_not_msg.html
"The darkest hour is just before the dawn" - Thomas Fuller (1650)
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