What is the survival rate of individuals diagnosed with tonsil cancer?

The relative five-year survival rate for tonsillar cancer is 66 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. This means 66 percent of patients with this form of cancer live at least five years after diagnosis.

Survival rates reflect typical outcomes for people who have a particular form of cancer, but they do not predict what may happen in any individual case, says the American Cancer Society. Many other factors affect a patient's outlook, such as age, overall health, treatment and response to a particular treatment. The five-year survival rate looks at outcomes for patients diagnosed at least five years before, meaning that recent advances in treatment are not reflected in the given rates.