Lung cancer is a difficult disease to survive. Patients with stage 4 lung cancer have a low survival rate, as their tumors have spread beyond the lung where they first developed and may even be in other parts of the body. Despite this, doctors have several ways to treat late-stage lung cancer and improve life expectancy. However, the side effects of treatment can reduce a patient’s quality of life. Therefore, it is important for people with stage 4 lung cancer to seek support through a variety of resources, such as palliative care specialists and counseling programs.
The five-year survival rate is a measure of how many people survive for five years after their diagnosis. This figure is used to compare the success of different treatments and can help a person decide what course of treatment will work best for them. However, it is important to note that the 5-year survival rate does not take into account how the cancer progresses or recurs after treatment. A patient’s doctor may be able to give them a more specific number for their unique situation.
Stage 4 lung cancer survival rates vary depending on the location and type of cancer. The most common types of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancer (NSLC) and small cell lung cancer. NSCLC is further divided into subtypes, which each have their own unique survival rates.
In general, people with NSCLC in stage 4 have a higher survival rate than those with non-small cell lung cancer in other stages. However, people with metastatic NSCLC have a lower survival rate than those with metastatic NSLC. In addition, the survival rate drops with age. The survival rate for people diagnosed with NSCLC in stage 4 is lowest for those over 80 years old.
The stage 4 lung cancer survival rate for NSCLC is also impacted by the type of NSCLC and the location of the tumor. NSCLC in stage 4A has a better survival rate than NSCLC in stage 4B, which is considered advanced. In stage 4B, the cancer has spread to the pleural fluid around the lungs or to a lymph node in the chest area.
When NSCLC reaches stage 4, it often spreads to other areas of the body, called distant metastasis. The five-year relative survival rate for NSCLC in stage 4 that has spread to distant organs or regions is just 3 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.
Other factors can impact survival rates for people with stage 4 lung cancer, including gender and a person’s racial or ethnic background. Women tend to have a slightly better survival rate than men, but researchers are working to determine the reasons behind this disparity. Also, people who have a history of smoking or radon exposure are more likely to develop NSCLC in stage 4 than those who have not been exposed. Lastly, African-Americans have a greater risk of developing and dying from lung cancer than whites or Hispanics.
