Cancer is a disease that is characterized by the growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body. It is a leading cause of death worldwide, with approximately 9.6 million deaths recorded in 2018 alone.

While there are many factors that can determine the prognosis of cancer, some types of cancer pose a higher risk of recurrence and mortality than others.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women, with an estimated 2.3 million new cases diagnosed in 2020 alone.

Although the prognosis for breast cancer has improved significantly in recent years, it is still one of the types of cancer that poses a higher risk of recurrence and mortality.

Invasive breast cancer, which has spread outside of the breast tissue, is more likely to recur than non-invasive breast cancer.

A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that women with invasive breast cancer are almost three times more likely to experience a recurrence than those with non-invasive breast cancer.

Breast cancer also has a higher mortality rate than many other types of cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.

Even with treatment, the five-year survival rate for women with metastatic breast cancer, which has spread to other parts of the body, is only around 27 percent.

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with an estimated 1.8 million deaths recorded in 2020. This is largely due to the fact that lung cancer is typically diagnosed at an advanced stage, when it is more difficult to treat.

Lung cancer has a high recurrence rate, particularly if it is not caught early. According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for lung cancer is only around 19 percent.

Lung cancer is also associated with a higher mortality rate than many other types of cancer. This is partly due to the fact that it is often diagnosed at a late stage, but also because lung cancer can spread quickly to other parts of the body.

Colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer, which includes cancer of the colon and rectum, is one of the most common types of cancer. It is estimated that there will be over 147,000 new cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed in the United States in 2020.

Like other types of cancer, the prognosis for colorectal cancer depends on the stage at which it is diagnosed. Colorectal cancer that has spread outside of the colon or rectum is more likely to recur than cancer that has been caught early.

According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for stage III colorectal cancer is around 64 percent, compared to around 92 percent for stage I colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is also associated with a higher mortality rate than some other types of cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, after lung cancer.

Melanoma

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that is often associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or tanning beds. It is estimated that more than 100,000 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the United States in 2020.

While melanoma can often be cured if it is caught early, it has a high recurrence rate.

According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for people with stage III melanoma is around 63 percent, compared to around 99 percent for people with stage I melanoma.

Melanoma also has a higher mortality rate than some other types of skin cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, it is responsible for the majority of skin cancer deaths.

Leukemia

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It is estimated that there will be over 60,000 new cases of leukemia diagnosed in the United States in 2020.

The prognosis for leukemia depends on several factors, including the type of leukemia, the stage of the disease, and the age and health of the patient.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which is more common in children than in adults, has a higher cure rate than other types of leukemia.

However, some types of leukemia, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), have a higher recurrence rate and a poorer prognosis.

According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for AML is around 28 percent, compared to around 86 percent for ALL.

Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that affects the pancreas, an organ that produces digestive enzymes and hormones that regulate blood sugar levels.

It is estimated that there will be over 57,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed in the United States in 2020.

Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, when it has already spread to other parts of the body. This makes it more difficult to treat and is one of the reasons why pancreatic cancer has a high mortality rate.

According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is only around 10 percent.

Like other types of cancer, the prognosis for pancreatic cancer depends on the stage at which it is diagnosed.

Pancreatic cancer that has spread outside of the pancreas is more likely to recur and has a poorer prognosis than cancer that is confined to the pancreas.

Bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is a type of cancer that affects the bladder, the organ that stores urine. It is estimated that there will be over 81,000 new cases of bladder cancer diagnosed in the United States in 2020.

The prognosis for bladder cancer depends on several factors, including the stage of the disease, the type of bladder cancer, and the age and health of the patient.

Bladder cancer that has spread outside of the bladder is more likely to recur and has a poorer prognosis than cancer that is confined to the bladder.

According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for bladder cancer is around 77 percent for localized bladder cancer, 35 percent for bladder cancer that has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and 5 percent for bladder cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Kidney cancer

Kidney cancer is a type of cancer that affects the kidneys, the organs that filter waste products from the blood. It is estimated that there will be over 73,000 new cases of kidney cancer diagnosed in the United States in 2020.

The prognosis for kidney cancer depends on several factors, including the stage of the disease, the type of kidney cancer, and the age and health of the patient.

Kidney cancer that has spread outside of the kidney is more likely to recur and has a poorer prognosis than cancer that is confined to the kidney.

According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for kidney cancer is around 93 percent for cancer that is confined to the kidney, 70 percent for cancer that has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and 12 percent for cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that affects the ovaries, the organs that produce eggs in women. It is estimated that there will be over 21,000 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed in the United States in 2020.

Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, when it has already spread to other parts of the body. This makes it more difficult to treat and is one of the reasons why ovarian cancer has a high mortality rate.

According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is around 49 percent.

Like other types of cancer, the prognosis for ovarian cancer depends on the stage at which it is diagnosed.

Ovarian cancer that has spread outside of the ovaries is more likely to recur and has a poorer prognosis than cancer that is confined to the ovaries.

Conclusion

While there are many types of cancer that pose a risk of recurrence and mortality, some are more likely to recur and have a poorer prognosis than others.

Breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, melanoma, leukemia, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, and ovarian cancer are all types of cancer that are associated with a higher risk of recurrence and mortality.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer, it is important to work closely with a healthcare provider to determine the best course of treatment and to monitor the disease closely to minimize the risk of recurrence and improve the chances of long-term survival.