Final answer:
Prostate cancer, breast cancer, and basal cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer) have the highest 5-year relative survival rates due to early detection and effective treatments. In contrast, lung cancer, stomach cancer, and liver cancer have the lowest survival rates, often due to late diagnosis and poor prognosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 5-year relative survival rate is a common measure used to gauge the prognosis of cancer patients, and it varies significantly among different types of cancer.
Top 3 Cancers with Highest Survival Rates
- Prostate cancer: Extremely high survival rates, especially when caught early.
- Breast cancer: Also has high survival rates due to effective screening and treatment options.
- Skin cancer (e.g., basal cell carcinoma): The survival rate is very high because these types of skin cancers are usually detected and treated early.
Bottom 3 Cancers with Lowest Survival Rates
- Lung cancer: The most deadly, with high mortality rates primarily due to late diagnosis.
- Stomach cancer: Often diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to a lower survival rate.
- Liver cancer: Tends to have a poor prognosis because symptoms may not appear until the cancer is quite advanced.
While skin cancers like melanoma can be very serious, when caught early, the 5-year survival rate can be high. However, for more aggressive forms of melanoma or when spread to other organs, the survival rate drops significantly.