Cancer survival rates in the Netherlands have significantly improved over the past three decades, with 72% of patients now surviving at least four years after diagnosis, compared to 51% thirty years ago. This progress is largely due to advancements in treatment and the development of new medicines.

The Dutch Cancer Registry (NKR) attributes the increase to ongoing research into innovative treatment methods and pharmaceuticals.

While survival rates have improved across all age groups, patients under 65 years old have a 10% higher chance of surviving cancer compared to older patients. This disparity is partly attributed to the initial focus of newer, more intensive treatments, such as advanced surgical techniques, chemotherapy, and stem cell transplants, on younger patients who are generally better equipped to handle them.

Survival rates among older patients have also shown marked improvement in the last 15 years.

The number of cancer survivors in the Netherlands increases by approximately 1% annually, resulting in about 1,000 additional patients surviving cancer each year.