Defined as an incidence of fewer than six cases per 100,000 people per year, or an incidence of less than 15 per 100,000 people per year.
Rare cancer is comprised nearly 200 different entities, and collectively account for approximately 25% of all cancers.
One in five cancer is diagnosed as a rare cancer.
Approximately 20% of patients with cancer diagnosed with a rare cancer, and they are more common among Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander populations.
Collectively rare cancers are likely to be diagnosed at later stages and overall survival is poor.
American cancer society data found that 59% of rare cancers are diagnosed at regional or distant stages compared with 45% of common cancers among solid tumors.
Five years relative survival among rare cancers is poorer compared with those diagnosed with a common cancer among both men and women (55% versus 75% and 60% versus 74%, respectively).
Five-year survival is substantially higher for children and adolescents-82%-compared with the 46% survival rate for adults age 65-79.
71% of cancers occurring in children and adolescents are rare compared with less than 20% of cancers diagnosed in patient 65 years and older.