Lung Cancer Prognosis
Prognosis is a term used to describe the outcome of a disease. Lung cancer has a less than favorable prognosis, with patients living for under 2 years or less on average. That said, it may be possible to live for decades with treatment. Learn what you can do to improve your lung cancer prognosis below.
What Is the Prognosis for Lung Cancer?
A lung cancer prognosis (health outlook) is given after a diagnosis has been confirmed. While every case is different, lung cancer patients typically live less than 2 years after a diagnosis. Roughly 1 in 4 patients are still alive 5 years after being diagnosed.
However, many patients have outlived their lung cancer prognosis to become long-term survivors. Getting prompt treatment for lung cancer is the best way to improve your prognosis.
Many other factors, including your lung cancer type, stage, and overall health, play a role in your lung cancer outlook.
Lung Cancer Group may be able to help you afford treatments to improve your lung cancer prognosis and cover any other expenses you face. Get a free case review now to find out if you qualify for compensation.
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Measuring Prognosis for Lung Cancer
A prognosis of lung cancer is measured using life expectancy (the average span of time someone lives after diagnosis) and survival rate (the percentage of people still alive after a set period of time).
View lung cancer statistics related to prognosis below.
Lung Cancer Life Expectancy
Lung cancer patients have a life expectancy of less than 2 years following a diagnosis.
That said, there are plenty of patients who have lived for 10, 15, or even 20 years.
Lung Cancer Survival Rates
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) notes that the average 5-year survival rate for lung cancer is 23%.
You may exceed typical lung cancer survival rates depending on when you’re diagnosed, your general health, and many other factors.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Prognosis
What type of lung cancer you have can greatly impact your prognosis, as some types are easier to treat than others. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer and has a better prognosis when compared to small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Patients with NSCLC typically live for 11-13 months, according to a 2020 medical report. The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that the 5-year relative survival rate for NSCLC is 28%.
Small Cell Lung Cancer Prognosis
Small cell lung cancer has a less favorable long-term prognosis than NSCLC, since it’s more aggressive and fewer treatment options are available.
The average life expectancy for this type is 7 months, according to a 30-year study of SCLC patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry. The 5-year survival rate for SCLC is 7%, as noted by the ACS.
Prognosis of Bronchial Carcinoids
Lung carcinoids are the third and least common type of lung cancer, but patients have the best prognosis of any type.
Lung carcinoid patients live for 5 and a half years on average when treated with surgery, according to a 2021 study. The 5-year survival rate is 92.4%, and many patients live for 10-15 years.
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Factors that Affect Prognosis for Lung Cancer
Many different factors can influence a lung cancer prognosis for better or for worse. View notable prognostic factors for lung cancer below.
Lung Cancer Prognosis by Age
Older patients generally have a poorer lung cancer prognosis and a higher mortality (death) rate.
Lung cancer mortality peaks between the ages of 80 and 84 in North America, according to an August 2022 study. Roughly 300 out of every 100,000 people in this age group died from lung cancer. In the age bracket of 44 and under, there were less than 10 deaths per every 100,000 people.
Lung Cancer Stage
There are four stages of NSCLC and two stages of SCLC. Those diagnosed in an early stage generally have a better lung cancer prognosis as metastasis (spread to other parts of the body) hasn’t occurred.
Here is a breakdown of how the stages of lung cancer affect prognosis:
- NSCLC patients have a life expectancy of 33-55 months if the cancer is caught in stages 1 or 2. This drops to 4-28 months if they have stage 3 or 4 lung cancer.
- SCLC has a life expectancy of 17 months when diagnosed in the limited stage (the first stage for this type, where the cancer is contained to just the lung). Patients live for 10-12 months on average if they are in the extensive stage (where the cancer has spread).
You may be able to become a long-term survivor and live for decades even if you have late-stage lung cancer by getting treated.
“At my first oncologist appointment, I was told I had only 9-12 months left to live without treatment. But I wasn’t ready to give up. I wanted to explore all my options.”
— Ed, 10+ year survivor of stage 4 NSCLC
Doctors can determine what stage your cancer is in using imaging tests and recommend treatments based on the stage to help you live longer.
Get a free case review to help pay for treatments to improve your lung cancer prognosis, no matter which stage you have.
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Subtypes of Lung Cancer
Besides the three main types of lung cancer, there are different subtypes based on the cells that make up the tumors. This directly affects your lung cancer prognosis, as some subtypes are easier to treat than others.
For example, a subtype of NSCLC called adenocarcinoma has a 5-year survival rate of 12%, with patients living longer if it is caught in an early stage.
A 2021 review of SEER data published in Translational Lung Cancer Research found that patients with a subtype of SCLC known as combined small-cell lung cancer (C-SCLC) had an overall survival of 10 months.
Patient Health
Patients who are in good overall health outside of having cancer can better tolerate treatments that can help them live longer.
Patients with other health problems in addition to lung cancer (comorbidities) or who are generally weaker tend to have a poorer prognosis.
Smoking
Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for lung cancer. Patients who are still smoking after being diagnosed with lung cancer are encouraged to quit before starting treatment.
“The healthier you are before treatment, the easier it will be to recover. If you smoke, the time to quit is now.”
— American Lung Association (ALA)
Johns Hopkins Medicine also notes that certain lung cancer treatments are more effective when patients eat a healthy diet, exercise, and don’t smoke.
Lung Cancer Prognosis and Treatments
Getting treatment is the most effective way to improve your lung cancer prognosis. Lung cancer treatments allow doctors to destroy cancer tumors and cells so you can hopefully live longer.
All of the following lung cancer treatment options can improve your prognosis.
Surgery
Doctors use surgeries to remove cancer tumors. They are often recommended for patients with early-stage NSCLC and lung carcinoids.
Here is how lung cancer prognosis improves with surgery by type:
- NSCLC: Patients with stage 1 NSCLC have a 5-year survival rate of 80%. Stage 2 NSCLC patients have a 5-year survival rate of 68%.
- Lung carcinoids: These patients had a 5-year survival rate of 92% and a 15-year survival rate of 76%, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Surgery isn’t typically used to treat SCLC since the cancer has often spread before it’s diagnosed.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is medication used to destroy cancer cells and improve prognosis. Late-stage NSCLC patients treated with chemotherapy live for 8-10 months on average, according to a 2022 study.
SCLC patients who receive chemotherapy as their first treatment can live cancer-free for 4-7 months, as noted in a 2021 report from Frontiers in Oncology.
SCLC usually comes back and resists follow-up chemotherapy, but other treatments can help improve your prognosis if this happens.
Contact our team for help paying for chemotherapy and other treatments that can improve your lung cancer prognosis.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy (medication that enhances the body’s immune response) can improve lung cancer prognosis in many cases.
In 2018, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) noted that immunotherapy and chemotherapy increased survival by 2 months in patients with advanced SCLC. This was the first new treatment combination in over 20 years that improved survival for these patients.
Additionally, a study from the journal Future Oncology found that late-stage NSCLC patients lived for 17.5 months on average when treated with immunotherapy.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses beams of energy to shrink tumors. Doctors usually administer radiation with other treatments to improve lung cancer prognosis.
Stage 1 NSCLC patients who don’t get surgery have a 3-year survival rate ranging from 55-91% when treated with radiation, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Patients with advanced SCLC lived for 16 months on average after getting treated with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and then radiation in a 2022 study.
Palliative Care
Palliative treatments focus on easing a patient’s symptoms. They don’t directly improve lung cancer prognosis but can improve quality of life and help patients recover from treatments.
Your doctors can recommend palliative care options like supplemental oxygen, pain medications, and counseling after providing treatments to help you live longer.
Clinical Trials
Some patients may qualify to join a clinical trial, where new treatments are tested to hopefully improve lung cancer prognosis.
A recent clinical trial used a targeted therapy to treat advanced-stage NSCLC patients whose cancer had gene mutations related to HER2, a cell protein. These patients lived for nearly 18 months on average.
Ask your lung cancer doctor if there are any available clinical trials that could help improve your prognosis.
Outlook for Lung Cancer Without Treatment
Your lung cancer prognosis will likely be poor if you don’t get any treatment.
Here is the average lung cancer prognosis without treatment by type:
- NSCLC patients live for just over 7 months without treatment, according to a report from Systematic Reviews.
- SCLC patients who have advanced cancer only live 2-4 months without treatment, as noted by a Thoracic Cancer report.
For this reason, you’re highly encouraged to get treatments from your health care team that can improve your lung cancer prognosis.
Lung Cancer Survivors Who Outlived Their Prognosis
A lung cancer prognosis is just an estimate, and you may outlive it by years or even decades. Learn about lung cancer survivors who surpassed their original prognoses below.
- Jim, 19-year survivor: Jim developed asbestos lung cancer in his 50s after losing his father to lung cancer earlier in life. Following treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, Jim achieved long-term survival.
- Lillian, 10-year survivor: Following a shocking advanced lung cancer diagnosis in 2014 due to a rare genetic abnormality, Lillian was treated with a series of targeted therapies, including one offered in a clinical trial.
- Nina, 10-year survivor: Nina was diagnosed with SCLC following a routine scan. Doctors caught her cancer in a limited stage, so it was considered treatable. Radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy were all used to help Nina.
“Over the years, I’ve seen so many stories, so many patient experiences that defy statistics.”
— Lillian, 10-year survivor of stage 4 lung cancer
The most effective way to become a lung cancer survivor is to get promptly treated.
Get a free case review to learn if you qualify for compensation that can pay for treatments to improve your lung cancer prognosis.
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Improving Your Lung Cancer Prognosis and Becoming a Survivor
While the future can seem uncertain after getting a lung cancer prognosis, it’s important to remember that there is hope. Your lung cancer prognosis may improve with treatment from specialists.
Here are some tips for improving your lung cancer prognosis:
- Schedule lung cancer screenings: If you or a loved one smoked, consider getting regular screenings to catch lung cancer before it causes symptoms. Early diagnosis is key to having a better lung cancer prognosis.
- Undergo treatment: Treatment can help you improve your lung cancer prognosis and become a survivor. Other patients have lived for decades with lung cancer, including patients who were originally given just months to live.
- Get support: It’s important to have a network of people you can rely on as you fight lung cancer. Doctors, family, caregivers, and even lawyers can take some of the load off your shoulders.
Our team may be able to help you and your family pursue compensation to pay for treatments that can improve your lung cancer prognosis. Get a free case review now.
FAQs Lung Cancer Prognosis FAQs
What is the average life expectancy with lung cancer?
The average life expectancy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is 11-13 months, while small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients typically live for 7 months.
That said, patients may live much longer because a prognosis might improve with the right treatment plan.
Is it possible to fully recover from lung cancer?
Yes, it may be possible for you to fully recover from lung cancer. For example, Emily is a 10-year survivor of NSCLC who has no evidence of disease — meaning all the signs of the cancer are gone.
You can work toward improving your lung cancer prognosis and fully recovering by getting treatments from your health care team.
Call (877) 446-5767 for help affording the treatments you need.
How quickly does lung cancer spread?
Lung cancer can spread very quickly without treatments, causing your prognosis to worsen.
A 2021 study found that stage 1 NSCLC patients who waited to get surgery for more than 12 weeks after a diagnosis didn’t live as long and were more prone to recurrence (where cancer comes back after treatment).
For this reason, make sure to see a doctor as soon as possible to get properly diagnosed and treated.
What are the chances of curing lung cancer?
There’s no official “cure” for lung cancer at this time, but you may be considered informally cured if there is no evidence of disease in your body.
There’s no guarantee that you’ll reach no evidence of disease, but you have a better chance by quickly getting treatment after a diagnosis.
Get a free case review to see if you may be able to get help paying for treatments, so you can improve your lung cancer prognosis and work toward a cancer-free life.
Which type of lung cancer has the worst prognosis?
Small cell lung cancer has the worst prognosis of any type since it’s harder to treat. The overall survival rate is just 7%, the lowest of all lung cancer types.
That said, it’s still possible to live for decades with SCLC. For example, Montessa is still alive today, nearly 20 years after being diagnosed with SCLC at the age of 28.
What is the prognosis for stage 4 lung cancer?
Stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer has the worst prognosis of all stages. Only 7% of patients with stage 4 NSCLC will be alive 5 years after diagnosis.
In addition, the 5-year survival rate for extensive-stage SCLC (which is the equivalent of stage 4) is 3%.
Long-term survivorship is possible for stage 4 lung cancer patients, though. A 2021 study from Frontiers in Oncology noted that some stage 4 NSCLC patients can live for 10-15 years.
Does lung cancer have the same prognosis as mesothelioma?
No. Mesothelioma (an asbestos-caused cancer that develops in the linings of major organs, usually the lungs) is sometimes confused with lung cancer. But, mesothelioma is a different cancer with its own prognosis.
Mesothelioma patients typically live for 12-21 months on average, depending on where the cancer forms, when it’s diagnosed, and how it’s treated.
The average lung cancer prognosis is more encouraging. While the average survival time is 3 years or less, there are many cases of patients living for 15 years or more.
Can a lung cancer prognosis change?
Yes. Depending on how your body responds to medical treatment, you could have a longer or shorter lifespan than originally expected.
Some lung cancer patients have gone on to become survivors despite a very poor prognosis at first. Your cancer care team will let you know of any changes to your prognosis following treatment.
