Stage 4 of Lung Cancer Survival Time
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Lung Cancer Stages
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Staging is an important part of diagnosing and treating lung cancer. The stages range from I (localized cancer confined to the lung), II (cancer confined to the chest), III (cancer confined to the chest, with more invasive tumors) and finally, IV (cancer that has spread to other parts of the body). According to the American Lung Association, 40 percent of people diagnosed with lung cancer are already at stage IV -- the most serious level, which makes treatment difficult.
Lung Cancer Prognosis
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The most recent statistics we have for lung cancer life expectancy are from 2005. Of the people who are diagnosed, the median life expectancy of stage IV lung cancer is approximately eight months. The five-year survival rate for individuals with this advanced cancer is just 1-2 percent. It is important to remember that these statistics are merely an average, but individual survival rates depend upon age, condition, other concurrent health issues, lifestyle, treatments, family history and DNA.
Though these statistics are grim, there is some hope for lung cancer patients undergoing treatment for early stage cancer. In stage I, most patients live more than five years. In fact, the five-year survival rate for patients who are 30 years of age or younger is 85 percent following tumor removal. At least half of all patients treated for this localized cancer are alive two to three years later. However, if left untreated, the disease can claim the patient's life in just three to four months, since this form of cancer tends to spread rapidly.
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Lung Cancer Treatment
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Stage IV lung cancer is treated primarily with pill or intravenous-administered chemotherapy, which slows the growing and migrating of tumors. Chemotherapy can prolong a patient's life from weeks to months in most cases. In addition to chemotherapy drugs, a patient often receives narcotic pain medication lsuch as codeine, OxyContin, Percocet, Tylox or morphine. In some instances, prescriptions include antidepressants (Elavil, Pamelor, Norpramine), anticonvulsants (Tegretol and Neurontin) or corticosteroids (Deltasone). More recently, radiation therapy has been added to the doctor's repertoire to help stop the spread of cancer. While some miraculous cures have resulted from these treatments, there is unfortunately no magic "cure-all" that works for everyone.
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