Survivorship A to Z -

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Once you're had a diagnosis of a serious health condition, the words "life expectancy" can sound like a statement of fact - especially when they come from a doctor you've researched and trust and who wears a white coat. However, life expectancy does not predict what will happen to you, unless you have a very short life expectancy, such as 30 days or less.

"Life expectancy" should be considered to be a planning tool rather than a statement of fact.

Life expectancy refers to statistics: what has happened to a large group of people historically in circumstances like yours. Breaking this down:

Life expectancy is what happens to a large group of people. It does not predict what will actually happen to any particular individual. There are always survivors.
Life expectancy refers to what happened in the past, not to what will happen in the future.
Statistics include people with no health care and very limited health care.
Statistics include people who refuse treatments and people who do not comply with drug protocols.
Life expectancy does not take into account continual medical advances which happen on a daily basis all over the world.