relative survival rate
(REH-luh-tiv ser-VY-vul …)
A way of
comparing the survival of people who have a specific
disease with those who don’t, over a certain period of
time. This is usually five years from the date of diagnosis
or the start of treatment for those with the disease. It is
calculated by dividing the percentage of patients with the
disease who are still alive at the end of the period of
time by the percentage of people in the general population
of the same sex and age who are alive at the end of the
same time period. The relative survival rate shows whether
the disease shortens life.