Lung cancer is an aggressive form of cancer that spreads rapidly. Survival rates are improving but remain low, particularly for SCLC. Early diagnosis and treatment improve a person's chances of living for 5 years or longer with lung cancer.
A 2018 study found that the median doubling time varies by type of NSCLC: Adenocarcinomas had a median doubling time of 261 days. Squamous cell carcinomas had a median doubling time of 70 days. Other lung cancers, which included large cell carcinomas and SCLC, also had a median doubling time of 70 days.
Rapid growing, with a doubling time of less than 183 days: 15.8% Typical, with a doubling time of 183 to 365 days: 36.5% Slow growing, with a doubling time of over 365 days: 47.6%
It usually starts in the breathing tubes (bronchi) in the center of the chest. Although the cancer cells are small, they grow very quickly and create large tumors. These tumors often spread rapidly (metastasize) to other parts of the body, including the brain, liver, and bone.
Almost all cases of small cell lung cancer are due to cigarette smoking. It is a fast-growing cancer that spreads much more quickly than other types of lung cancer.
Studies have shown that lung cancer doubling time can vary, from 229 days to 647 days in one study, depending upon the type. 7 It's possible that some types of lung cancer progress within weeks to months, while others may take years to grow.
Other symptoms of lung cancer spread
Bones – bone pain, fractures, constipation, decreased alertness. Liver – nausea, extreme fatigue, increased abdominal girth, swelling of feet and hands, yellowing or itchy skin. Brain or spinal cord – headache, blurred or double vision, difficulty with speech, seizures.
Symptoms that are common towards the end of life in lung cancer include pain, dyspnoea, delirium and respiratory secretions. Such symptoms need to be anticipated and addressed promptly with appropriate medications and explanations to the patient and family.
General symptoms
a change in a cough you have had for a long time. breathlessness. unexplained weight loss. ongoing chest infections.
We sometimes experience unexpected sudden death (USD) of in-hospital patients, including the patients with lung cancer. However, information of sudden death of the patients with cancer is limited.
While it's possible for lung cancer to spread virtually anywhere, it most commonly metastasizes in the liver, brain, bones or adrenal glands.
The NCI add that over half of people who receive a diagnosis of localized lung cancer will live for 5 years or longer following diagnosis. As diagnosis and treatment strategies improve, more people are surviving for a decade or longer with the condition.
Chest pain: When a lung tumor causes tightness in the chest or presses on nerves, you may feel pain in your chest, especially when breathing deeply, coughing or laughing.
More than half of lung cancer patients will die within one year of diagnosis even with treatment. Without treatment, patients may die even sooner. For any hope of survival, medical or surgical treatment is necessary.
Early lung cancer does not alert obvious physical changes. Moreover, patients can live with lung cancer for many years before they show any signs or symptoms. For example, it takes around eight years for a type of lung cancer known as squamous cell carcinoma to reach a size of 30 mm when it is most commonly diagnosed.
Untreated lung cancer patients live on average for 7.15 months.
Because there are very few nerve endings in the lungs, a tumor could grow without causing pain or discomfort. When symptoms are present, they are different in each person, but may include: A cough that doesn't go away and gets worse over time. Hoarseness.
Persistent cough and shortness of breath. Fluid build-up around lungs. Severe fatigue. Loss of appetite and nausea.
Patients can (and usually do) live with lung cancer for many years before it becomes apparent. Early lung cancer is largely asymptomatic and internalisation of tumours means patients are not alerted by obvious physical changes.
In lung cancer patients, acute pain is often felt in the chest and lumbar (lower back) regions of the body.
Because cancers such as lung grow quietly and aren't detected until they've become advanced and spread to other parts of the body, doctors don't detect the disease until it's too late.
As with many other cancers, a key to surviving lung cancer is catching it in its earliest stages, when it is most treatable. For patients who have small, early-stage lung cancer, the cure rate can be as high as 80% to 90%.
Survival for all stages of lung cancer
around 40 out of every 100 people (around 40%) survive their cancer for 1 year or more. around 15 out of every 100 people (around 15%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more. 10 out of every 100 people (10%) will survive their cancer for 10 years or more.
Summary. Chest pain, coughing, fatigue, and shortness of breath are symptoms associated with a number of diseases. These common symptoms may lead to certain diseases—such as asthma, allergies, pneumonia, COVID-19, heart disease, bronchitis, and bronchiolitis—to be mistaken for lung cancer.