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Understanding the Lung Cancer Survival Rate
The lung cancer survival rate is a statistic derived from a population of patients with a specific cancer type. Caregivers may use a different approach with each variation, but in general, the statistics allow them to provide an accurate prognosis. That said, no two cancer cases are pre-determined to have the same outcome.
Type SCLC
The prognosis for SCLC, or small cell lung cancers are generally dismal. This cancer may not cause obvious symptoms until it is advanced, at which point it is hard to eradicate. It is described in two stages, ‘limited’ or ‘extensive.’ The former meaning the malignant cells are still local, the latter meaning they have spread to other parts of the body. In the rare case a SCLC is operable, it is followed up by chemotherapy or radiation therapy to kill additional metastasized cells.
NSCLC
NSCLC, or non small-cell lung carcinoma is diagnosed in stages with the help of the TNM system and other models. This cancer generally causes one or more of the following symptoms:
-difficulty breathing
-coughing up bloody sputum
-dizziness
-fatigue
-weight loss
Patients who see a doctor early on have a better chance of beating their disease. If the symptoms are caused by a localized tumor if may be operable. As with SCLC, surgery is generally followed by chemotherapy.
Improving Odds
In both types of carcinoma, the majority of cases are attributed to smoking. Small cell is rarely detected early and has an average 2 to 10 percent survival rate; non small-cell, if detected early has a thirty to sixty percent survival average. Patient’s chances of beating cancer increase with early diagnosis and treatment, good health and younger age.
Overall statistics show about 15% of cases still cancer-free at the five year mark. These numbers are affected by gender, age and even genetics. A person can not control their genes, gender or age, but courses of combination chemotherapy drugs or ‘chemoradiaton’ have improved the outcome of treatment in advanced NSCLC.
Lifestyle habits help prevent lung cancers. Carcinogens to avoid include primary and secondary tobacco smoke, radon gas, asbestos, arsenic and high pollution. Check with your doctor if symptoms develop.