The Fox Chase Difference
Treatment outcomes at Fox Chase Cancer Center

Five-Year Survival Statistics for Major Cancers

One of our patients: Carol Hess, Stage II breast cancer survivor. Within Carol's first year of treatment, she ran a 13-mile half marathon.
Read Carol's Story

or cancer patients, getting the right care — from experts with the knowledge and experience to provide the best treatment
options — can mean the difference between life and death. But finding that care can be daunting, especially since cancer hospitals rarely share information about their treatment results.

Fox Chase Cancer Center believes in empowering patients with the knowledge to make the healthcare decisions that are right for them. That’s why Fox Chase recently became one of the first cancer centers in the country to publish its clinical outcomes. Five-year survival rates for patients treated for several major cancers — breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate — with Fox Chase outcomes are here compared to those of large and small community-hospital cancer programs. In nearly all categories, patients treated at Fox Chase survive longer.

You can choose from the list below and click on the link to see the charts for that cancer. You can also find information by using the links in the "Topics in this Section" box, at right. This box is shown on every page.

• Breast Cancer
• Colon Cancer
• Lung Cancer
• Prostate Cancer

Recognized Experts

Fox Chase is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. That elite title recognizes excellence in patient care, as well as in laboratory, behavioral, and clinical research. Fox Chase integrates the work of its clinicians and researchers to advance the understanding of cancer and offer leading-edge, compassionate care to patients.

Founded in 1904 as one of the first cancer hospitals in the country, Fox Chase offers a full spectrum of cancer-related services, from prevention to treatment to survivorship support. The Center’s scientists have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes, and its doctors are national leaders in innovative techniques from minimally invasive surgery to radiation therapy
technologies. In pursuit of its mission to prevail over cancer, the Center is leading transformative developments in cancer genetics and personalized medicine and offers about 200 clinical trials at any time that give patients access to the latest medical advances.

Behind the Data

The publication of its clinical outcomes reflects Fox Chase’s dedication to transparency and service to patients. “We are committed to helping the public become more informed when making decisions about their health care,” says Center president and CEO Michael V. Seiden. “We hope this data will enable patients to make the choices that are right for them.”

One of our patients: Prostate cancer survivor Curt McKee and his daughter after his da Vinci® robot-assisted prostatectomy surgery.
Read Curt's Story

It is also important that patients understand the data’s limitations. For example, it cannot predict the outcome of individual cases. In addition, patient populations and diagnostic criteria can differ from one institution to the next, preventing precise, “apples-to-apples” comparisons. For these reasons, the publication of clinical outcomes is a topic of debate among healthcare providers. Fox Chase published its outcomes only after lengthy and thoughtful consideration. “Ultimately, I think it’s being responsible,” Seiden says of the decision. “We have this data; shouldn’t patients have access to it?”

• Read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
• Read about the methodology used for collecting data.
• Download a printable brochure of the outcome charts here [PDF]
• Learn more about cancer care at Fox Chase Cancer Center or call 1-888-FOX-CHASE (1-888-369-2427).
• Questions? Please contact us at outcomes@fccc.edu