The duration of each stage varies widely from person to person. The early stages (1–3) can last years or even decades before noticeable symptoms appear. Middle stages (4–5) typically span several years, while the later stages (6–7) may last one to three years. Overall, people can live anywhere from months to more than 20 years after diagnosis. Key factors include age at diagnosis, overall health, and how advanced the disease was when first detected.