Life Expectancy for Patients with Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer Life Expectancy

Receiving a diagnosis of lung cancer can be overwhelming, leading many individuals to wonder about their prognosis and how much time they have left. While grappling with such thoughts can be challenging, it’s important to recognize that there is hope. Advances in treatment options and ongoing clinical trials are paving the way for innovative approaches to managing lung cancer, significantly improving survival rates and enhancing the quality of life for many patients.

In this article, we will explore the factors that influence the life expectancy of someone with lung cancer, including the differences among the stages and types. We’ll also discuss the impact of lung cancer treatments and the life expectancy without treatment, specifically for patients with metastatic lung cancer or mesothelioma that has spread to the lungs. Understanding this topic in full can provide valuable insights for you and your family as you navigate this difficult journey.

Lung Cancer Life Expectancy Verse Survival Rate

It can be easy to get the terms ‘life expectancy’ and ‘survival rate’ mixed up since both involve assessments of mortality. They do differ, however, by what metrics and when in the patient’s lung cancer timeline they occur. Life expectancy is the oncologist’s assessment, based on the patient’s stage of cancer and overall health support, and how long they’ll live with the disease. In contrast, the survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live for a defined period after diagnosis, typically averaged across many patients. While life expectancy offers a tailored projection based on individual circumstances, survival rates provide a generalized overview of outcomes across various stages of lung cancer.

Since life expectancy is specific to each individual patient, the survival rate serves as an average across many cases. Upon a lung cancer diagnosis, your oncologist will provide a specific prognosis regarding your life expectancy. According to the American Lung Association (ALA), the average five-year lung cancer survival rate is about 18.6 percent, indicating that roughly 18.6 percent of patients survive five years post-diagnosis. This rate averages all stages of lung cancer, but demographics and specifics can significantly influence it. For example, the survival rate tends to be higher when considering only stage one and stage two lung cancer, as treatments are generally more effective in these earlier stages compared to later stages.

How Doctors and Specialists Approach Life Expectancy

If you or someone you know with lung cancer or mesothelioma presents symptoms or concerns about their health, doctors typically begin with tests to see what’s going on. If initial results are inconclusive, further testing may be conducted, and it may even be worth seeking a second opinion if you’re able. Once a definitive diagnosis is made, such as lung cancer, the doctor or lung specialist will formulate a prognosis that predicts how the disease is likely to progress. This prognosis will include an estimate of life expectancy—the number of years or months a patient might live with the disease and a relative survival rate. This would indicate an improved prognosis if one is lucky enough to go into remission.

How Quality of Care Affects Life Expectancy

Research also has shown that access to primary care significantly influences life expectancy. Areas with a higher density of primary care physicians correlate with longer lives; for every ten additional primary care doctors per 100,000 people, life expectancy increases by an average of 51.5 days. This relationship is attributed to better management of health risks and earlier detection of serious conditions, including various cancers.

Despite these benefits, the number of primary care doctors is declining, creating a potential challenge for future patient care and life expectancy outcomes. Addressing this shortage through financial incentives and reforms in physician payment structures may be essential for improving access to primary care and enhancing patient prognoses in the long term.

Lung Cancer Life Expectancy by Type

Lung cancer encompasses several distinct types, each with unique characteristics, treatment approaches, and life expectancy outcomes. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common lung cancer type, accounting for a significant majority of cases, while small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is known for its aggressive nature and rapid progression. Additionally, mesothelioma, a rare cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure, presents unique challenges in prognosis and treatment options.

Lung carcinoid tumors, though less common, are also included in the spectrum of lung cancer types and have different implications for patient outcomes. Understanding the life expectancy associated with each type will help those fighting a disease effectively navigate treatment decisions.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer. Approximately 80 percent of people with the disease have NSCLC. The five-year survival rate for this subtype when tumors have metastasized (spread) to other parts of the body is approximately seven percent. If tumors have only reached nearby tissue, then the rate jumps up to 35 percent. When tumors are localized, meaning they haven’t spread at all, the five-year survival rate is approximately 63 percent.

Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)

Much less common, small cell lung cancer encompasses approximately 10 to 15 percent of patients with the disease. This type of lung cancer grows and spreads much more aggressively and is already metastasized to distant regions of the body in 70 percent of related diagnoses. Additionally, it primarily affects smokers. The median life expectancy for late-stage SCLC is six to 12 months. Without treatment, median survival drops between two and four months.

Life Expectancy for Lung Carcinoid

Lung carcinoid tumors are a rare type of neuroendocrine cancer, accounting for only one to two percent of all lung cancers. These tumors typically grow slowly and can be classified into two types: typical and atypical. Typical carcinoids are more common and have an excellent prognosis, with about 85% to 90% of patients surviving at least five years after diagnosis. In contrast, atypical carcinoids, which grow faster and are more likely to metastasize, have a five-year survival rate of 50% to 70%. The outlook for lung carcinoid tumors is generally positive, but individual survival can vary based on tumor type, stage, and other health factors.

H4: Life Expectancy for Mesothelioma Asbestos Lung Cancer

The life expectancy for asbestos-related lung cancer, specifically mesothelioma, typically ranges from 4 to 18 months after diagnosis. However, this can vary significantly based on several factors, including the type of mesothelioma (with epithelial being the most favorable of the mesothelioma types), the stage at which it is diagnosed, the presence of metastasis, and the overall health of the patient.

Some patients diagnosed at an earlier stage and in good health have survived longer, with a few exceeding 10 years due to advancements in treatment options. While true remission is rare, many individuals have successfully extended their survival through a combination of traditional and supportive therapies. Ongoing research continues to improve early detection and treatment methods, which could positively impact life expectancy for those diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Support to Help Your Lung Cancer Life Expectancy

While survival and life expectancy rates are valuable benchmarks, they don’t account for all the variables influencing an individual’s prognosis. In the past decade, scientists and researchers have made significant strides in developing new treatments and therapies that offer higher success rates for lung cancer patients. Some individuals have exceeded expected survival timelines, but outcomes can vary widely.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with lung cancer, understanding your legal rights and options can be helpful when it comes to paying for treatment. We invite you to submit a free case evaluation to explore how you may be entitled to compensation, which can help ease the financial burden of treatment and improve your quality of life during this challenging time.