Treatment for metastatic cancer has seen scant progress in the past decade, reveals a report from the Comprehensive Cancer Center of the Netherlands (IKNL). Half of patients survive six months or less—just one month longer than a decade ago, according to NOS.nl.
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One in five patients diagnosed with a tumor already has metastases. Lung cancer accounts for the largest group with metastatic disease, but survival rates have improved little over ten years. Metastatic esophageal and bladder cancers show no survival gains whatsoever.
Not all news is grim. Patients with metastatic prostate cancer, breast cancer, or melanoma often maintain a good quality of life for years.
