Types of Lung Cancer: Diagnosis and Screening

A lung cancer diagnosis is often only made when the disease is already advanced. In fifteen to thirty percent of all cases, the tumor has already metastasized (spread to other organs) at the time of diagnosis. This is due, in part, to the lack of symptoms in early-stage tumors.

Early lung cancer diagnosis combined with early and appropriate treatment improves the chance of survival markedly. Details on standard treatment options are available through the Lung Cancer Treatment Tool. Sign in to get information on which protocol may be best suited to you. However, A novel lung cancer treatment may be right for you.

Five-year lung cancer survival rates only average thirteen percent overall. If the disease is detected at an early stage, and the patient is young and healthy, however, five-year survival increases to 85 percent.

Not all tumors are the same. Tumor growth rate, treatment options, and lung cancer survival rates are all determined by the type diagnosed. Small cell and non small cell cancers are discussed in detail on the Types of Lung Cancer page.

Screening for Smokers and High Risk GroupsGiven the fact that lung cancer survival rates increase with early-stage tumor detection, the need for some form of screening technique is apparent.
High-risk groups, such as smokers, could be routinely screened for signs of the disease. Screening methods for breast, colon, and cervical tumors have all been proven to improve prognosis and survival rates.

The difficulty lies in developing a screening technique that can be proven to extend life and improve treatment options. To date, no one diagnostic technique has been proven to effectively detect lung tumors in their early stages. Many diagnostic tools exist, but may provide false-positive results, leading to unnecessary anxiety and additional unneeded tests. A screening method must also be proven to improve survival rates: without this proof, critics argue that patients may undergo strenuous treatment without need. Read more about the ongoing screening debate.

Did You Know?Smokers and people exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke account for approximately 87 percent of all lung cancer cases.