Check out this study: http://www.vaoutcomes.com/papers/JAMA2975.pdf http://www.vaoutcomes.com/papers/JAMA2975.pdf The conclusion: "Although 5-year survival is

Check out this study: http://www.vaoutcomes.com/papers/JAMA2975.pdf http://www.vaoutcomes.com/papers/JAMA2975.pdf The conclusion: "Although 5-year survival is a valid measure for comparing cancer therapies in a randomized trial, our analysis shows that changes in 5-year survival over time bear little relationship to changes in cancer mortality. Instead, they appear primarily related to changing patterns of diagnosis."