Lung Cancer Prognosis
The term "lung cancer prognosis" basically describes a patient's chances for survival and recovery once they are diagnosed with lung cancer. Every lung cancer prognosis depends on the type and severity of the lung cancer. Other things a doctor considers when giving a lung cancer prognosis include where the tumor is, how big the tumor is, how severe the symptoms are and what the general health of the individual is like.
Lung Cancer Prognosis - Overall
Unfortunately, the prognosis for any type or stage of lung cancer is not especially good. In most cases, a person with untreated non-small cell lung cancer will not live more than six months. If lung cancer is caught early, however, the chances of survival are better.
When compared with other types of cancer, the survival rate for lung cancer ranks lower than other cancers. Only about 15 percent of lung cancer victims survive for another five years after diagnosis, while 88 percent survive breast cancer, 63 percent survive colon cancer and 99 percent make it through prostate cancer.
Lung Cancer Prognosis - Small Cell Lung Cancer
Small cell lung cancer is the more serious of the two types of lung cancer, and it has the worst prognosis as well. If not treated, virtually half of patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer will die within 2-4 months of diagnosis. Patients in the limited stage of small cell lung cancer have a higher survival rate, but not by much. On the bright side, small cell lung cancer responds better to both chemotherapy and radiation therapy than other types of cancer.
In its advanced stages, small cell lung cancer has spread to other areas of the body, and this makes treatment difficult. Because of the rapid spreading of small cell lung cancer, surgery is not a very effective treatment option, and neither is localized radiation therapy. Chemotherapy is the most viable treatment for small cell lung cancer. A patient can survive four or five times longer when chemotherapy is used on its own or with other forms of lung cancer treatment.
Lung Cancer Prognosis - Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer responds best to treatment when it is in the earliest stages, before it spreads outside the lungs and into other parts of the body. The best prognosis for lung cancer is found in stage 1 lung cancer, when doctors are able to totally remove the cancer with surgery. Up to 75 percent of patients with this type of lung cancer survive.
In general, survival rates are poor in late stage non-small cell lung cancer. Although rare, radiation therapy does have good results for a few patients, but it is most commonly used for symptom relief in the majority of patients. Chemotherapy may extend the lives of some lung cancer victims, but most patients still do not survive. This is especially true with late stage lung cancer.
Lung Cancer Prognosis - The Survivors
Lung cancer survivors are not always completely out of the woods once they make it through. Regular checkups are vital to make sure the cancer does not come back, and they should be continued throughout the patients life. If the cancer does return, it usually happens within two years of the first instance.