lifetime risk

The probability of developing or dying from cancer in the course of one’s lifespan.

Lifetime risk is the probability of developing or dying from cancer in the course of one’s lifespan. Lifetime and age-conditional risk estimates provide a useful summary of the current cancer risk and how this risk compares with earlier periods and among select subgroups of society. These reported estimates have the potential to promote early detection efforts, to increase cancer awareness, and to serve as an aid in study planning.