Survival numbers on reports

[Terrin2]

Reading the survival number of weeks on the drug reports, such as doxil, or topotecan.   Claiming for eg. 235 people 63 weeks vs 60 weeks on a different drug.   Do you mean to tell me they followed all of these people until they died or are is it based on something else.  Somehow some of the numbers do not make any sense.   Can someone tell me what they know about this?

[mrsbaguba]

My surgeon told me a long time ago to STOP reading all that "statistic" stuff unless I wanted to be an acctuarial (sp?) Gotta love that woman..........I still read what I want, but know that I am an individual and those statistics are only a bunch of numbers.

[kismetfarm]

Yes they follow them until they die.   I was on a clinical trial nearly three years ago as part of the control group.  Every three months they ring me to ask how I am.  I am seriously skewing the figures now I reckon in that the control chemo didn't work for me but I am still here.

Statistics are just that - a collection of numbers averaged.  It took me a long time to get my head round that (when first presented with five year survival rate 10% etc) but it does include women who are elderly, in very advanced stages, in otherwise poor health etc. It is just an average.

[marie3B]

My first oncologist said not to look at those numbers at all. Those averages include women of advanced age and women with overall very poor health. They should break it down by age, overall health, and tumor type to make it more accurate. There is also the factor of a person's attitude and will to fight. My aunt had advaced lung cancer. Statistics gave her 3 - 6 months best. She said, "I think NOT!" She is still alive and doing well 8 years later. My tumor type and stage the statistics in the Journal of Oncology give me 5 - 15 months. I say I'm still too busy and will keep on living..........
Marie

[Tybear]

Funny you mention this...I always wondered the same thing. I guess I knew deep down, that these women died, but it's hard to imagine. I think for the drugs I'm on, it said the average median survival was something like 16 months (don't quote me on that!!) How do they come up with these numbers when you have women, like us, who are on these drugs for years and years? Strange...I learned a long time ago not to read too much into the numbers, but it still get's you thinking....
Becky

[vegas2cr]

numbers are just that numbers... yes it means that these women died.  Averages and statistics are lousy ways to judge how long someone can live.  They do compare types of drugs and come up with these numbers... BUT somethings work better for some than others... Please do not let these numbers upset you.  I was diagnosed 11 months ago with stage IV and told maybe I would see the end of the year... well guess what I am still here and still battling....

[vegas2cr]

numbers are just that numbers... yes it means that these women died.  Averages and statistics are lousy ways to judge how long someone can live.  They do compare types of drugs and come up with these numbers... BUT somethings work better for some than others... Please do not let these numbers upset you.  I was diagnosed 11 months ago with stage IV and told maybe I would see the end of the year... well guess what I am still here and still battling....