Outcome of Patients with Soft‐Tissue Sarcomas: An Age‐Specific Conditional Survival Analysis

Conclusion.Conditional survival estimates show clinically relevant variations according to time since first diagnosis in both young and elderly patients with STS. These results can help STS survivors adjust their view of the future and STS care providers plan patient follow‐up.Implications for Practice.For patients with sarcoma who are followed up years after being treated for their disease, a common scenario is for the patient and caregivers to ask practitioners what the longer‐term prognosis may be. The question posed to practitioners may be, “Doc, am I now cured? It's been 5 years since we finished treatment.” Survival probability changes for patients who survive a given period of time after diagnosis, and their prognosis is more accurately described using conditional survival. By analyzing more than 6,000 sarcoma patients, an overall improvement was found in the risk of relapse as patients conditionally survive. Prognostic factors for metastatic relapse and death change as patient survival time increases in both young and elderly patients.
Source: The Oncologist - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Sarcomas Source Type: research