Life expectancy for stage 4 lung cancer patients is generally poor. This is due to the fact that this stage of the disease has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body, including the brain, bones and liver.
There are many factors that can influence the life expectancy of a patient with stage 4 lung cancer, such as the type of cancer and the extent of the metastasis. In addition, a person’s overall health can have an impact on their cancer prognosis as well.
A diagnosis of lung cancer can be difficult for a person to cope with, especially when it’s found in an advanced stage. People who are faced with this situation may experience fear, anger and depression, as well as a decrease in their ability to function normally.
Fortunately, there are ways to combat these feelings. One of the best things a person can do is to talk about their emotions with a trusted friend or family member. This can help them understand the impact of their diagnosis on their life, as well as provide emotional support.
Lung cancer is usually treated by using drugs called chemotherapy. This can be combined with targeted therapy, immunotherapy or palliative radiation to improve the odds of a person living a long, healthy life.
Treatment for lung cancer can also include surgery, if possible. This can be done to remove tumors that are causing pain or if the cancer has spread to the liver, bones or other organs.
Some people with lung cancer who are diagnosed at this stage can live for several years with treatment. However, if the cancer has already spread to other areas of the body or if the patient has a limited lifespan, doctors may choose to treat the disease with more palliative measures.
If a person’s cancer has spread to the brain or adrenal glands, they may undergo surgery to remove these areas. The cancer specialist may also use chemotherapy to kill the cells that are causing the disease.
Another option is to use targeted treatments and immunotherapy to attack the cancer cells that are causing the symptoms. This can increase the chances of a patient living a long and healthy life, but it can be more difficult to control.
This treatment may be a good choice for patients with stage 4 lung cancer if they have good overall health and no other serious problems. It can be a great alternative to radiation therapy, which may cause more severe side effects and decrease the quality of a patient’s life.
The cancer specialist will work with you to find the most effective and safest treatment options for your stage 4 lung cancer. This can be challenging and may be a long process.
Most stage 4 non-small cell lung cancers are found to have metastases in other parts of the body, including the brain and the bone. Typically, the cancer specialist will treat the primary tumor in the lung along with the metastases that have already formed. They may also use radiation to destroy the remaining cancer cells in the lung and the other metastases that have spread to the other parts of the body.
