Neil, one definite factor regarding survival is if one continues to smoke or chew, or drink more than just a wee bit. Those who do continue (or begin) these behaviors, and there are many, cause the survival statistics to look worse than they actually are for those of us who do not. Rather than looking for comfort in numbers, remember that each person is his/her own statistic with no connection to anyone else's situation. As Gary says, MDACC is a very highly rated and experienced institution, so that helps the odds too. Information truly is power, but occasionally one can suffer from overload, so step back when you need to. We will still be here when you are ready for more.