Lung cancer is a serious illness. In recent years, there has been a vast increase in treatment options and lots of work is being done to help people live longer and with a better quality of life. Doctors may discuss your prognosis – which describes what path they believe the disease will take. Most prognosis information is given in terms of a ‘5-year survival rate’. This term is often used by healthcare professionals and refers to the number of people who lived for 5 years or more after being diagnosed with different types of lung cancer.
It is important to remember that everyone is different and your tumour may not respond to treatment in the same way as another person’s tumour. Statistics do not necessarily reflect what will happen to you. You should see your prognosis as a guide – and discuss it with your healthcare professional.
There are several different types of lung cancer, requiring a range of different treatments. Your treatment plan will be based on the type and stage of lung cancer you have, your general state of health, and your personal preferences. Treatments may be focused on either curing your lung cancer (curative treatments), or on helping you live longer and with a better quality of life with lung cancer (palliative treatments).