Check these out. They are survival curves from a successful clinical trial of treatments for metastatic squamous non–small-cell lung cancer. These beautifully-presented below graphs show both triumph and tragedy. The new therapy definitely extended survival. Yet the difference in median survival is only three months. A long way to go. And I’m so happy my friend quit smoking.
PS-RhodesKen is correct that the probability of two-year survival is notably better with the new therapy. That is very good news.
RhodesKen says
Harold, you comment "difference in median survival is only three months."
But I see another difference, which seems very important. The Long Term Survival Rate (a loosely chosen term by me) seems to have doubled. That's gotta be good.
Brett_Bellmore says
Yeah, that's what drew my eye. Went from maybe 15% to 30% 'cure' rate. That's big.
And, frankly, at the rate cancer research is advancing right now, even a few months can be significant.
schmidtb98 says
A close relative died 2 months ago from lung cancer (don't know if it's the same type as this).
Three months more would be a gift to patients, especially if it's a good quality of life.
RhodesKen says
Yes, my wife Pat died from precisely the type of cancer mentioned, three months after her initial diagnosis.
Three extra months would have been a gift; six extra months would have been a miracle.