Lung Cancer Life Expectancy

Question: What is the life expectancy for metastic lung cancer? The cancer has stread to the pluerea, lymph nodes, brain and bones, and is in a 4th stage!!! My mother is 75 and is now very very depressed! This is from 2nd hand smoke as my mother is not a smoker!!!

Answer: I'm so very sorry for you and your mom. People that have never smoked or been around smokers also get lung cancer, so I wouldn't put blame on someone else if they are a smoker. You can only get this answer from your mom's doctor. Please make a list of questions (so you won't forget any) and give them a call. I bet they will be happy to take your call and answer your questions. I'm very sorry.

Question: What is the life expectancy for Small Cell Lung Cancer with out treatments? My mother (age 63) was diagnosed with Small Cell Lung Cancer in June 08. She has choosen not to have any treatments for it. At the time of the diagnosis it had not spread to other areas.

Answer: Wow! My mom is going through the same thing right now and the doctor told her today that she could expect to live 5 months to 5 years with chemo therapy but, without it only god knows sweetie. It all depends on how aggressive the cancer is and when god chooses to call her home!

Question: What is the life expectancy of someone with Lung Cancer? My mother was just recently diagnosed with Lung cancer, only thing is, it has metastasized to her brain and bones. We only found out 2 weeks ago after her memory had been lost. After taking Decadron her memory has been better but now she has lots of trouble walking. I need to know how long she has, so I can prepare mentally and to arrange for a funeral....Right now I am in the dark. Can someone please help!

Answer: I am sorry about your mom, in my experience as a nurse lung cancer is the fastest to advance and hardest to treat. ask about hospice to be arranged in your home if her doctor finds it appropriate. i would expect a few months at best. obviously it depends on the type of cancer as well. ask the oncologist for a straight forward no bull answer of her prognosis. if it cannot be treated effectively i would question if chemo is ordered, it will make her last days even more miserable. i am sorry to be pessimistic, i hope you are not offended by my answer.

Question: What is the life expectancy of NSC lung cancer mets to brain-liver-bones-spleen? Long term on pain management for back -felt new type pain around tailbone late June 2008 . Diagnosed in Late August -started radiation mid Sept. Shourl he do CXhemo? Pain is tremendous

Answer: Pain control is paramount in this situation. This is a possible Hospice situation - if the malignant disease is as advanced as described. I have not seen this person. I don't know the tumor burden in the lungs, brain and liver. His doctors know his case FAR BETTER than we can know it over the internet. Hospice situations involve people with expected survivals of less than six months. Usually liver involvement means less than six months, BUT each person is different and this person could do better than the averages suggest. Spleen is an unusual place for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Are you certain the spleen is involved? Chemotherapy is never a cure in these situations. In some cases it may do more harm than good for this type of cancer at this stage in my experience over 20 years as a cancer specialist MD. It will be up to the patient and his doctors to decide whether to try chemotherapy for palliation to perhaps buy some extra months of survival time. The pros and cons are very close to canceling each other out in this situation.

Question: Life Expectancy for Stage 4 Lung Cancer? What would be the life expectancy for a 73 year old woman who has Stage 4 lung cancer which spread to her liver, as well as emphysema?

Answer: My mother showed no symptoms of stage 4 lung cancer. On her birthday, Feb. 09 at the young age of 75, she found out. It had spread to her brain, stomach, lymph nodes. June 4th, rest her soul, she passed away. She had radiation treatments for the brain, and 2 rounds of chemo. She went way to fast. The doctor said with treatment it was up to 18 months. Without treatment it was 3-6 months. I think she had alittle bit of the emphysema too. I am not positive about that. She smoked for alot of years, and quit in January and she wanted to make sure that her lungs were still clear when she saw her doctor.

Question: life expectancy of patient with lung cancer and multiple brain tumors? my mother has had lung cancer for a year , this august she started having fits and was diagnosed with multiple brain tumors, she was sent home from the hospital because they was nothing more that could be done.she is on m.s.t, and dextromethosone,for the fits and pain, but i want to prepare myself and know what is life expectancy

Answer: Standard of care in that situation would be oral steroids (Decadron in pill form along with a medication to block acid secretions in the stomach) and a brief course of whole-brain radiotherapy... unless she is otherwise in such poor condition aside from the brain lesions that they suggest not doing the radiation. The textbook answer on median survival (50% still alive) would be: 1 month with no treatment. 2 months with steroids 6 months with whole-brain radiotherapy. Aloha

Question: Life expectancy for primary lung, secondary liver cancer? My grandma has been diagnosed with primary lung and secondary liver cancer. It has also spread to her bones. What is the life expectancy for this kind of cancer? Please dont just have a guess. I want answers from people who actually know! the doctor has said that the cancer is very advanced...

Answer: The progress of your grandmother's disease, her response to treatment, and general health all factor into her prognosis. Every case is unique. No one can accurately predict the lifespan of an individual patient, not even their oncologist. Based on your description, your grandmother has stage 4 lung cancer with multiple metastasis. It is likely that she will receive chemotherapy to slow the cancer's overall growth plus radiation targeted at the bone lesions. Further surgery is generally not viable in her circumstances. Among all patients with your grandmother's status, the long term prognosis is unfavorable. Their 5 year survival rate is in the low single digits. However, in very rare cases patients have experienced long term remission. Best wishes to your family. Here are some websites with accurate and useful information: the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute.

Question: Can anyone tell me the life expectancy for someone with small cell lung cancer limited stage 3rd level? My mother was just diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. She has been undergoing testing and just started treatments this week with it. I do know shes at stage 3 and its limited stage. Please any information you could give would be great I have seen some information but hoping what you may find looks better than what i have. We still haven't gotten all the results back yet we will this Friday. But thanks for any and all help.

Answer: Small cell is best treated with chemotherapy which aggressively deals with it. If your mother can finish the chemotherapy, then radiation is usually administered. Although each person is different, the five year survival rate is very low. I know that cancer is stressful to the patient and loved ones but try to do your best to help her relax. Plus, it is a good idea that her surroundings are as clean as possible to prevent infection. Her immune system will be compromised. My mother had small cell but was already in a bad shape before she was diagnosed at age 77. Her oncologist was surprised that she didn't respond better to treatment. I can understand what you are going through. I will be thinking of her and sending good thoughts her way. Good luck to you. Please let us know how she is doing.

Question: Life expectancy of someone with small cell lung cancer? Has anyone, or do you know anyone that has beat lung cancer of this type? Thanks for answers. This person has not smoked for 25 yrs, and is male and over 60. They were not given the stage of the cancer by the doctor. I would venture to say it was an early diagnosis from the timetable that they spoke of.

Answer: Small Cell Lung Cancer is one in which a percentage of folks may have long term survival. It is a cancer that is very responsive to treatment, but many cases tend to recur. If diagnosed early (Limited Stage) chemotherapy and radiation will allow 20% of cases to survive at least 5 years. If diagnosed late (Extensive Stage), 5 year survival is much worse (around 1%).

Question: Can anyone tell me the life expectancy for someone with small cell lung cancer...stage 3, possibly limited? My aunt has small cell lung cancer. she was just diagnosed and they are saying it is stage 3, limited. BUT there is also a small spot on her liver. I was just curious if anyone knew the life expectancy of someone that DOES treatment with small cell lung cancer?

Answer: Small cell is not normally staged in the usual fashion of 1-4. Its either limited or extensive. Once the cancer has appeared in a different location, then it is extensive. Small cell responds quite well to chemo, WBR (whole brain radiation) is usually recommended as a precaution as lung cancer has a reputation of travelling to the brain. Becoming N.E.D. (no evidence of disease) is often diagnosed after chemo and/or radiation, unfortunately it has a high percentage of recurring so moderation is frequent. I have non small cell, but know of others with small cell. I've attached a link for you if you would like support, there are people on that group that are going thru this with small cell, and are now N.E.D. All the best to your Aunt.

Question: What is the life expectancy of a stage four lung cancer patient with metastasis to brain and liver? This is small cell carcinoma. Thank you. God Bless you and your work. The website helped, too.

Answer: There are so many other things that factor into a life expectancy besides the actual diagnosis. For example, the will to hang on, family or friends who are unaccepting or unable to come to terms with the impending death, faith in God-or lack of, unresolved issue or affairs not in order......you get the idea. Often, people will succomb to complications from their disease first. (In this case, an example would be pneumonia, organ failure, sepsis...) No one can give you the "real" answer your looking for. But, the diagnosis you mentioned does not give you long. I am an oncology nurse, and I have seen people linger far longer than anticipate (and beyond most odds), and people who leave so much sooner than thought. I can tell you it is an important time to speak what's in your heart and help the person who is dying find a sense of peace. If this is a person who is close to you, there will also be an important time to tell them it's ok to go. I'm so sorry that this has touched your life, I know what a hard journey lies ahead. I hope you peace and comfort in knowing that the human spirit lives on......and they never really leave us. They just get to the next place a little sooner. God bless you and yours.

Question: What is the life expectancy of a 62 year old male with lung cancer spread from bowel. ? He had removed from bowel in January and recently got a lot better after initial chemotherapy. Second round about to start. In January he also had pneumonia which has since cleared. However cough now returned and bringing up material. Growth on neck and something breaking out on face. Also pains in legs. He is optimistic and a figher.He expects to live for years but I need to know what is realistic.

Answer: If he has colon cancer that spread to his lungs it is still colon cancer not lung cancer. If this happened while he was on chemo it means he is not responding well. The 5 year survival rate for a stage 4 colon cancer is 5%.

Question: What is the the average life expectancy for a 49 year old male with T2N1M0 small cell lung cancer? He has smoked all his life, but quite as soon as he found out he was sick. He received chemo and radiation, and the doctors said it was gone, but they have found that the tumor is still there, and a lymph node in his neck is involved, too.

Answer: A T2 N1 M0 would be a stage 2B. For a man his age with small cell the 5 year survival rate is about 10%.

Question: What is the life expectancy for patients diagnosed with Non small cell lung cancer stage 4?

Answer: bad advice brad!! stage 4 is not a death sentence many have recovered and lived 10 or more years. Never give up!!! http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,347,0.htm

Question: what is the life expectancy of a person with stage four lung cancer?

Answer: leave anything that has to do with numbers to the doctors. that is what they are paid to do. don't worry yourself with this. this person with lung cancer is not a statistic but an actual person.

Question: Does anyone know what the life expectancy is for someone just diagnosed with lung cancer?

Answer: Prognosis depends much more on the type of cancer e.g oat cell tumour of Lung, is highly aggressive and death occurs in matter of months between 3 to 6 Months! Secondary Tumours may take from 3 to 5 years. However the general prognosis is 5 years. BUT exceptions are there. This is the best soft sweet Prognosis I can give you practically.