Lung Cancer Survival Rate

Lung cancer is known to affect both, men and women. Tobacco smoking is the major cause of lung cancer. Many genetic and environmental factors like poisonous gases and air pollution are also equally responsible for the development of lung cancer. Lung cancer is basically caused due to abnormal growth of cells, which grow uncontrolled in the tissues of the lung. Small cell and non-small cell lung carcinomas are the two major types of lung cancer. Shortness of breath, rapid weight loss and cough are the primary symptoms of the disease. The diagnosis of lung cancer is done with a biopsy and using the latest technology of Computed Tomography (CT) scan. However, there are chances of surviving this dreadful disease, if it is diagnosed in time and act fast by taking some preventive measures and cancer treatments. Before finding out the lung cancer survival rate, let's first take a look at the various types of treatment available for the disease.

Treatments for Lung Cancer

With the advancement in the medical science, treating lung cancer cases has become possible. Following are treatments which are widely used to treat lung cancer:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation

What is Lung Cancer Survival Rate?

It is difficult to treat lung cancer as compared to the other types of cancers, mainly due to the difficulties in its diagnosis. In most of the cases, lung cancer is diagnosed quite late, which is fatal for the patient. Due to these complications, the survival rate among lung cancer patients is quite low, as compared to that of other types of cancers. As per the definition, the survival rate for lung cancer is the percentage of the people who live life well, after the diagnosis of their disease. Most of the available statistics refer to a five year survival rate. The five year relative lung cancer survival rate for the years 1995 to 2002 was approximately 15 percent. The lung cancer survival rate varies as per the four different stages of lung cancer.

The statements made in regards to the lung cancer survival rate are generalized and relevant to a group of people and not to a single or individual patient. This is because the case types, complications and conditions of two different patients are most of the times, different. The lung cancer survival rates largely depend on the stage of lung cancer, the type which the person is suffering from and also considers the general health and well-being of the patient, including whether he/she has any other disease which can aggravate his/her situation. In the years 1995 to 2002, incidence of lung cancer was around 13.4 percent among white men, while it was 17.4 percent for white women. The percentage of black men and women affected by the disease was 10.5 percent and 14.5 percent respectively. The patients who were detected with stage 1 lung cancer with Computed Tomography (CT) scan had a 10 year survival rate of 88 percent. As per the study, the patients who underwent surgery a month after the diagnosis, had a lung cancer survival rate of 92 percent. If the lung cancer is detected and treated before it spreads to other organs in the body, the percentage of people who can survive five years or longer after the initial diagnosis would be approximately 49 percent. In the third stage of lung cancer, the lung cancer survival rate is between 3-15 percent; while in the fourth stage, it is less than 2 percent.