Treatment FAQ

how long can you live with stage 4 cervical cancer without treatment

by Anastacio Sporer Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Stage 4 cancer usually has spread to multiple places in the body, meaning you can live only a few weeks or a few months. In rare cases, some people may survive for several months or even a year with stage 4 cancer, with or without treatment.

Stage 4. Around 15 out of 100 people (around 15%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after being diagnosed.

Full Answer

What is the prognosis for Stage 4 cervical cancer?

Stage 4 cancer usually has spread to multiple places in the body, meaning you can live only a few weeks or a few months. In rare cases, some people may survive for several months or even a year with stage 4 cancer, with or without treatment. Some studies have found that attempting to aggressively treat cancer that has reached stage 4 can actually lead to a drop in the quality of …

How bad is Stage 3 cervical cancer?

Mar 01, 2022 · A relative survival rate compares women with the same type and stage of cervical cancer to women in the overall population. For example, if the 5-year relative survival rate for a specific stage of cervical cancer is 90%, it means that women who have that cancer are, on average, about 90% as likely as women who don’t have that cancer to live for at least 5 years …

How treatable is cervical cancer?

Jan 06, 2021 · What is the survival rate for stage 4 cervical cancer? The 5-year survival rate for stage 3 cervical cancer is twice as high as stage 4. Once cancer has spread to a distant location, the survival rate is 16.8%. Is stage 4 cervical cancer curable? Stage 4 cervical cancer is not curable in many cases.

What is the life expectancy of someone with cervical cancer?

Can I survive stage 4 cervix cancer? Possibly. I have a few stage 4 patients with cancer of the cervix alive and cancer free out 5–10 years without relapse. It’s not common but it definitely is possible. The long term survivors after chemotherapy almost always had dramatic responses to their first chemotherapy regimen.

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How long can a person live with stage 4 cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer that has spread to distant organs and bones is difficult to treat. Historically, patients with metastatic cervical cancer have been considered incurable and rarely survive more than a year or two.

What happens if cervical cancer is left untreated?

If cervical cancer is undiagnosed and untreated, it will slowly spread out of the cervix and into the surrounding tissue and organs. The cancer can spread down to the vagina and the surrounding muscles that support the bones of the pelvis.

What is the last stage of cervical cancer?

Cancer has spread beyond the pelvis, or has spread to the lining of the bladder or rectum, or has spread to other parts of the body. Stage IV is divided into stages IVA and IVB, based on where the cancer has spread.

How fast does cervical cancer spread without treatment?

How quickly does cervical cancer develop? Cervical cancer develops very slowly. It can take years or even decades for the abnormal changes in the cervix to become invasive cancer cells. Cervical cancer might develop faster in people with weaker immune systems, but it will still likely take at least 5 years.Sep 20, 2021

Can you beat stage 4 cervical cancer?

Stage 4 cervical cancer is not curable in many cases. However, nearly 17 in 100 women will beat stage 4 cervical cancer. It is crucial to seek expert gynecologic oncology support in a high-quality healthcare system to determine the best course of action for you and your family.Jan 6, 2021

How long can a woman live with untreated cervical cancer?

The prognosis for invasive cervical cancer depends on the stage. More than 90% of women with stage 0 survive at least 5 years after diagnosis. Stage I cervical cancer patients have a 5-year survival rate of 80% to 93%. Women with stage II cervical cancer have a 5-year survival rate of 58% to 63%.Sep 30, 2021

How fast does cin3 progress cancer?

For CIN 3, the estimated spontaneous regression rate is 32 to 47 percent, with 12 to 40 percent progressing to invasive cancer if untreated [8-13].

Is Stage 4 always terminal?

Stage 4 cancer is not always terminal. It is usually advanced and requires more aggressive treatment. Terminal cancer refers to cancer that is not curable and eventually results in death. Some may refer to it as end stage cancer.

What is the life expectancy for Stage 4 cancer?

In most cases, how stage 4 cancer is likely to progress (its prognosis) depends on the type of cancer. Some advanced cancers are very aggressive and fast-growing....Survival Rates.Five-Year Survival Rates for Distant (Stage 4) CancerCancer TypeRelative 5-Year Survival RatePancreatic2.9%11 more rows•Mar 5, 2022

What are the symptoms of late stage cervical cancer?

Signs and symptoms of more-advanced cervical cancer include:Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after menopause.Watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odor.Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse.Jun 17, 2021

How aggressive is cervical cancer?

Small cell carcinomas of the cervix tend to be highly aggressive and have low survival rates. They've often spread to lymph nodes and other parts of the body by the time of diagnosis. Treatment options often mimic those of small cell lung cancer, and include a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.Mar 4, 2022

What stage is invasive cervical cancer?

Stage 0: Carcinoma in situ. Abnormal cells in the innermost lining of the cervix. Stage I: Invasive carcinoma that is strictly confined to the cervix. Stage II: Locoregional spread of the cancer beyond the uterus but not to the pelvic sidewall or the lower third of the vagina.

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer occurs when previously healthy cells in the cervix become abnormal. As they grow, they crowd healthy cells. If the abnormal cells s...

What is stage 1 cervical cancer?

Stage 1 cervical cancer is the most local stage of cervical cancer. In stage 1, cancer cells: Grow from the surface of the cervix into deeper tissu...

What are the symptoms of stage 1 cervical cancer?

Stage 1 cervical cancer often has no symptoms. By the time symptoms appear, cancer has often advanced. If you experience any symptoms in this stage...

What are stage 1 cervical cancer treatments?

The treatments for stage 1 cervical cancer vary for women depending on whether they want to be able to have children in the future or not. For thos...

What is the survival rate for stage 1 cervical cancer?

Approximately 92% of women with localized cervical cancer are likely to be alive in 5 years. However, if there is pelvic lymph node involvement, th...

Is stage 1 cervical cancer curable?

The earlier that cervical cancer is found, the better because cervical cancer’s survival rate is high if caught before it has spread. The treatment...

What is stage 2 cervical cancer?

Stage 2 cervical cancer occurs when cancer has spread from the cervix and uterus. In stage 2, cancer cells: Grow beyond the cervix and uterus, but...

What are the symptoms of stage 2 cervical cancer?

Stage 2 cancer spreads to the parametrium and past the uterus to the upper vagina. Because the tumor is growing into nearby tissue, noticeable symp...

What are stage 2 cervical cancer treatments?

Typically, a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy is the best choice. Radiation therapy is both EBRT and chemotherapy. If internal rad...

What is the survival rate for stage 2 cervical cancer?

The combination of radiation and chemotherapy (chemoradiation) significantly improves the likelihood of survival at this stage, with a survival rat...

How long do you live with cervical cancer?

Survival rates can give you an idea of what percentage of people with the same type and stage of cancer are still alive a certain amount of time (usually 5 years) after they were diagnosed.

What is the relative survival rate of cervical cancer?

A relative survival rate compares women with the same type and stage of cervical cancer to women in the overall population. For example, if the 5-year relative survival rate for a specific stage of cervical cancer is 90%, it means that women who have that cancer are, on average, about 90% as likely as women who don’t have ...

What is the SEER database?

The SEER database tracks 5-year relative survival rates for cervical cancer in the United States, based on how far the cancer has spread.

Where does cancer spread?

Regional: The cancer has spread beyond the cervix and uterus to nearby lymph nodes. Distant: The cancer has spread to nearby organs (like the bladder or rectum) or distant parts of the body such as the lungs or bones.

Does SEER show cancer stages?

The SEER database, however, does not group cancers by FIGO stages (stage 1, stage 2, stage 3, etc.). Instead, it groups cancers into localized, regional, and distant stages: Localized: There is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the cervix or uterus.

Can cancer survival rates be predicted?

Keep in mind that survival rates are estimates and are often based on previous outcomes of large numbers of people who had a specific cancer, but they can’t predict what will happen in any particular person’s case. These statistics can be confusing and may lead you to have more questions.

Is cervical cancer better for women?

Women now being diagnosed with cervical cancer may have a better outlook than these numbers show. Treatments improve over time, and these numbers are based on women who were diagnosed and treated at least five years earlier.

What is the most local stage of cervical cancer?

Stage 1 cervical cancer is the most local stage of cervical cancer. In stage 1, cancer cells: Grow from the surface of the cervix into deeper tissues of the cervix. Have not spread to nearby lymph nodes. Have not spread to distant sites. Stage 1 is split into A and B, which are further divided.

How to stay healthy with cervical cancer?

The best way to stay healthy is to see your healthcare provider regularly for routine screening. Many of the symptoms of cervical cancer can also be caused by other conditions. If you experience any signs and symptoms of cervical cancer, see a healthcare professional right away.

How many women will have cervical cancer in 2020?

Cervical cancer is one of the most common forms of gynecologic cancers, with 6 in 1,000 women receiving a cervical cancer diagnosis at some point in their lifetime. In 2020, American Cancer Society’s estimates there were an estimated 14,000 new cases of invasive cervical cancer diagnosed in the United States.

What happens when cervix cancer grows?

Cervical cancer occurs when previously healthy cells in the cervix become abnormal. As they grow, they crowd healthy cells. If the abnormal cells spread to other areas of the body, it makes it harder for the body to function correctly. Cervical cancer used to be one of the most common causes of cancer death for American women.

What is stage 2 cancer?

Stage 2 is split into A and B, but 2A is additionally divided. 2A: Cancer has grown beyond the cervix and uterus, but not into the parametrium. 2A1: The cancer is smaller than 4 cm (1 ⅗ inch). 2A2: The cancer is larger than 4 cm. 2B: The cancer extends beyond the cervix and uterus and has spread into the parametrium.

What is a radical hysterectomy?

A radical hysterectomy is a total hysterectomy, however, it includes the uppermost part of the vagina near the cervix (parametrium) and the pelvic ligaments that support the uterus.

Where does stage 2 cervical cancer spread?

Stage 2 cancer spreads to the parametrium and past the uterus to the upper vagina. Because the tumor is growing into nearby tissue, noticeable symptoms are more likely to occur at this stage. Symptoms of stage 2 cervical cancer include: Abnormal uterine bleeding.

Sub-stage 4A

This stage describes when cancer has spread beyond the pelvis to nearby tissues and organs such as the bladder, rectum, and lymph nodes but hasn’t left the pelvic area to more distant body parts. 1 Cancer Research, UK. ( Trusted source) Visit source

Sub-stage 4B

This is the last stage describable. At this point, cervical cancer has metastasized from the pelvic region to distant parts of the body or organs such as the lungs, bones, and liver. The prognosis at this stage is the worst that can be expected as it’s very difficult to treat.

Symptoms and what to expect

Early stages of the disease are usually asymptomatic (not showing any symptoms) but it is common to discover a stage 4 cervical cancer following an abnormal pelvic examination with some or all of the following symptoms: 3 The National Institute of Health ( trusted source) visit source

Treatment of cervical cancer stages 4

The particular treatment you receive is governed by the location of cancer in your body, the type of cells involved, and your state of health with respect to your tolerance of the procedure.

Prognosis or survival rate

Only about 15% of people 13 Cancer Research, UK. ( trusted source) visit source with this terminal stage of cervical cancer are known to live for the next 5 years from the date of diagnosis. This is a far cry from an over 80% survival rate for people with early-stage cancer. 14 Healthcrust article ( trustworthy) visit source

How many stages of cervical cancer are there?

Doctors use the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system for cervical cancer. There are 4 stages, numbered 1 to 4. Stage 4 means the cancer has spread to parts of the body outside the cervix and womb. It can be divided into stage 4A and stage 4B.

What is the treatment for stage 4 bladder cancer?

Stage 4. Stage 4 means the cancer has spread to the bladder or back passage (rectum) or further away. The main treatments are surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or a combination of these treatments. Or you might have treatment to control symptoms.

What is stage 4B?

Stage 4B. Stage 4B is when the cancer has spread to organs further away, such as the lungs. Your doctor might call this secondary or metastatic cancer.

How long does a chemo course last?

During your course of radiotherapy, you also have chemotherapy once a week or once every 2 or 3 weeks.

Can cervical cancer come back?

Sometimes cervical cancer can come back after treatment. It may come back near to the area where the cancer first started (local recurrence). Or in another part of the body (secondary or metastatic cancer).

Can you have radiotherapy for cervical cancer?

If you've had radiotherapy before to treat cervical cancer, you might not be able to have any more to that area of the body. There is a maximum amount of radiotherapy normal body tissues can take. You might be given chemotherapy with another drug called bevacizumab. Chemotherapy for advanced cervical cancer.

How long do people with stage 4 thyroid cancer live?

For example, nearly 89% of people with stage 4 thyroid cancer live for at least five years, with many living 10 years or more.

What is stage 4 prostate cancer?

For example, stage 4 prostate cancer includes stage 4A, in which cancer has spread to local (also called regional) lymph nodes; and stage 4B, in which spread is more distant and could include metastases in the bones or farther-flung lymph nodes. 3. Cancers from one location metastasize in similar ways.

Why is the N classification important?

The N classification runs from 0 to 3. Lymph nodes are important for cancer prognosis, because spread there makes it easier for the cancer to move on to other parts of the body.

What is the TNM system?

TNM Classification. Doctors use a classification system developed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer, called the TNM system, to assess a patient’s cancer stage. 2 While the actual breakdown of letters and numbers differs depending on cancer location, the stages have the same three components:

What does stage 4 mean?

A stage 4 cancer diagnosis means that cancer has metastasized. Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells beyond the original tumor to other organs and the body’s lymph nodes. 1

What are some examples of cancers that metastasize in similar ways?

Here are some examples of common cancers and where their stage 4 malignancies are commonly found. 1. Breast cancer: Bones, brain, liver, and lungs. Lung cancer: Adrenal glands, bones, brain, liver, and the other lung.

How long does cancer last?

Doctors usually talk about survival in a five-year time frame, but you’ll also hear one-year, two-year, and 10-year survival rates .

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Sub-Stage 4A

  • This stage describes when cancer has spread beyond the pelvis to nearby tissues and organs such as the bladder, rectum, and lymph nodes but hasn’t left the pelvic area to more distant body parts.1Cancer Research, UK. (Trusted source) Visit source It falls in the category of locally advanced cervical cancers which describes all the stages from 1b2 to this stage, 4A.2Cancer Re…
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Sub-Stage 4B

  • This is the last stage describable. At this point, cervical cancer has metastasized from the pelvic region to distant parts of the body or organs such as the lungs, bones, and liver. The prognosis at this stage is the worst that can be expected as it’s very difficult to treat. The symptoms can be quite severe and treatment objectives often boil down to palliative care. No matter how far it goe…
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Symptoms and What to expect.

  • Early stages of the disease are usually asymptomatic (not showing any symptoms) but it is common to discover a stage 4 cervical cancer following an abnormal pelvic examination with some or all of the following symptoms:3The National Institute of Health (trusted source) visit source 1. Foul-smelling vaginal discharge that could be watery, pinky, brownish, or bloody. 2. Un…
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Treatment of Cervical Cancer Stages 4.

  • The particular treatment you receive is governed by the location of cancer in your body, the type of cells involved, and your state of health with respect to your tolerance of the procedure. There are basically 4 options in your treatment which are: 1. Radiation therapy, 2. Chemotherapy, 3. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) targeted therapy.4Ginekologia Polska, Polish Society of Obs&g…
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Prognosis Or Survival rate.

  • Only about 15% of people13Cancer Research, UK. (trusted source) visit source with this terminal stage of cervical cancer are known to live for the next 5 years from the date of diagnosis. This is a far cry from an over 80% survival rate for people with early-stage cancer.14Healthcrust article (trustworthy) visit source A lot may not live beyond 1 or 2 years from the time of diagnosi…
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What Is It?

  • The stage of a cancer tells you how big it is and whether it has spread. It helps your doctor decide which treatment you need. Doctors use the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system for cervical cancer. There are 4 stages, numbered 1 to 4. Stage 4 means the cancer has spread to parts of the body outside the cervix and womb. It can be divided into st…
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Stage 4A

  • Stage 4A is when the cancer has spread to nearby organs such as the bladder or back passage (rectum).
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Stage 4B

  • Stage 4B is when the cancer has spread to organs further away, such as the lungs. Your doctor might call this secondary or metastatic cancer.
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Treatment

  • The stage of your cancer helps your doctor to decide which treatment you need. Treatment also depends on: 1. your type of cancer (the type of cells the cancer started in) 2. where the cancer is 3. other health conditions that you have For stage 4 cervical cancer you might have treatment with: 1. surgery 2. radiotherapy 3. chemotherapy 4. targeted cancer drug You might have a comb…
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Treatment For Cancer That Has Spread to Nearby Organs

  • You usually have treatment with a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy (chemoradiotherapy) for stage 4A cervical cancer. With this treatment, you have daily external radiotherapy for 5 days every week, for around 5 weeks. You also have a boost of internal radiotherapy (brachytherapy) at the end of your course. During your course of radiotherapy, you …
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Treatment For Cancer That Has Come Back

  • Sometimes cervical cancer can come back after treatment. It may come back near to the area where the cancer first started (local recurrence). Or in another part of the body (secondary or metastatic cancer). The treatment you have depends on: 1. where the cancer is 2. what treatment you had before 3. your general health 4. your wishes Your doctor will talk to you about what the t…
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Other Stages

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