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How aggressive is non-small cell lung cancer?

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on Dec 24, 2024.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

How fast does non-small cell lung cancer spread?

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tends to spread more slowly than small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and may be more manageable with treatment. About 80% of all lung cancers are diagnosed as NSCLC. Lung cancer most commonly spreads to the liver, brain, bones or adrenal glands.

Some forms of NSCLC do grow rapidly, such as large cell undifferentiated carcinoma and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer globally and accounts for about 13% of all cancer diagnoses in the U.S. It is ​​also the most common cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., but those numbers are decreasing.

An individual person’s lung cancer prognosis will vary greatly based on the location, stage, type of cancer and other patient-specific factors. Small cell lung cancer tends to occur most frequently in people who are heavy smokers, but smoking can also cause non-small cell lung cancer.

How long can I live with non-small cell lung cancer?

Estimates of lung cancer survival rates can’t tell you exactly how long you will live after a diagnosis, but they can provide a better understanding of treatment success.

The stage of lung cancer at diagnosis helps to determine the overall estimated survival time. The American Lung Association uses the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database, which tracks 5-year relative survival rates for NSCLC and SCLC based on how far the cancer has spread.

The SEER database groups cancers into localized, regional, and distant stages. When all All SEER stages are combined, the 5-year relative survival rate for non-small cell lung cancer is 25%, while the 5-year survival rate for small cell lung cancer is 7%.

Localized: With localized lung cancer, there is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the lung.

Regional: Regional lung cancer has spread outside the lung to nearby structures or lymph nodes.

Distant: The cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, such as the brain, bones, liver, or the other lung.

Related questions

How does lung cancer survival compare to other cancers?

The overall 5-year survival rate of lung cancer is much less than some other common types of cancer:

But it is important to remember that these numbers are based on population averages and are not a predictor of how long any one person diagnosed with cancer will live. Consult with your cancer doctor, who can give you a more personalized estimate of your prognosis.

Join the Drugs.com 'Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer' group to help and get support from people like you.

References

Read next

Is non-small cell lung cancer hereditary?

A hereditary family history of lung cancer is one of the many risk factors for developing non-small cell lung cancer. About 8% of lung cancers are thought to be inherited or linked to gene changes, but smoking and air pollution remain the primary causes of lung cancer. Continue reading

Does smoking cause non-small cell lung cancer?

Yes, smoking can cause non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common type of lung cancer. NSCLC accounts for about 85% of all cases of lung cancer. Smoking tobacco contributes to 80% to 90% of all lung cancer deaths. Continue reading

What type of cancer is Tecentriq used to treat?

Tecentriq (atezolizumab) is an immune checkpoint inhibitor used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small cell lung cancer (SCLC), heptatocellular (liver) carcinoma (HCC), melanoma (skin cancer), and alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS), a rare soft tissue tumor. Continue reading

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