Relative Survival Rate

(REH-luh-tiv ser-VY-vul …) A way of comparing survival of people who have a specific disease with those who don't. The percentage of survivors is usually determined at specific times, such as 2 years and 5 years after diagnosis or treatment. The relative survival rate shows whether the disease shortens life.

A specific measurement of survival where the rate is calculated by adjusting the rate to remove all causes of death except cancer. It is the ratio of a cancer patient's chance of surviving a given time interval to that of an average person of the same age and sex.