Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUnderstanding Stage 1 Lung CancersStage 1 Survival StatisticsFactors Influencing Survival Rates
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Understanding Stage 1 Lung Cancers
Stage 1 Survival Statistics
Factors Influencing Survival Rates
As the earliest stage of disease,stage 1 lung cancergenerally has the most promising outlook. Current statistics suggest that anywhere from 70% to 92% of people with stage 1non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)can expect to live at least five years following theirdiagnosis.Many patients live for far longer given newer and more effective therapies.
There are variables that can increase or decrease life expectancy in any stage of lung cancer. Understanding what they are—and changing any that are modifiable—can increase your chances ofremissionand help ensure your longest, healthiest life.
This article presents information about types of lung cancer, treatment options, and what the research says about stage 1 lung cancer survival rates. It also discusses factors that influence survival.
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Lung cancer staging is a system that doctors use to determine the severity of the disease, the appropriatecourse of treatment, and the likely outcome (also known as theprognosis).
Non-small cell lung cancer, the most common form of the disease, is staged on a scale of 1 to 4, with stage 1 being the least serious and stage 4 being the most serious. With stage 1a, the NSCLC is localized and has not spread to other organs, so there may be more treatment options and optimism about them.
Stage 1 NSCLC is further broken down into two distinct stages:
Stage 1a can be further broken down into three subtypes—stage 1a1,stage 1a2, andstage 1a3—based on their size, location, orcancer type. Each of these stages and sub-stages corresponds to a different five-year survival rate.
Lung cancer survival is classified in different ways. Some estimate survival times based on the stage of the disease, while others do so based on the extent of the disease. Both methods have their advantages and limitations.
It’s important to remember that survival statistics are based on entire populations, not your specific diagnosis, and developments (like new treatments) aren’t always reflected in the data due to lag time of several years. There also are other types of survival statistics that may be considered, but the numbers used here are derived from the TNM system and the SEER database for five-year survival.
While the TNM approach can provide a generalized overview of survival rates in people with NSCLC, there are limitations to what it can predict. Certain fundamental factors—such as the location of the tumor and the degree of airway obstruction—can significantly reduce survival times and are not reflected in estimates.
Under the SEER classification system, lung cancer is classified in one of three ways:
Stage 1 lung cancer falls under the localized classification. According to SEER data from 2012 to 2018, localized NSCLC has a five-year survival rate of 65%.
The downside to the SEER classification system is that allows for a significant overlap in definitions. For example, stage 1 NSCLC falls into the same “localized” category asstage 2a NSCLCgiven that neither involves lymph nodes. Even so, the TNM-based five-year survival rate for stage 2a lung cancer is only 60% and significantly lower than stage 1a lung cancer.
Irrespective of whether TNM staging or SEER data is used, there are variables that can increase or decrease life expectancy in people with NSCLC. Some are non-modifiable, meaning that you cannot change them, while others are modifiable, meaning that you can.
Among the many factors that can influence survival rates, there are six that can add or subtract years in people with NSCLC.
These factors influenceallstages of NSCLC—not just stage 1—although the outcomes are likely to be better with stage 1 disease given that it is the earliest, most treatable stage.
Type of Lung Cancer
Age
Lung cancer typically affects people over 65. As a person ages, their general health tends to diminish, reducing their ability to fight the disease. This can directly influence survival times according to data from the SEER Program.
Treating Lung Cancer in Older Adults
Performance Status
Performance status (PS)is a term used to describe how well or poorly a person is able to perform normal everyday tasks. PS is rated on either the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) PS scale of 0 to 5 (with 0 being fully functional and 5 being death) or on the Karnosky PS scale of 0% to 100% (with 0% being death and 100% being fully functional).
Based on PS alone, researchers in Japan were not only able to predict five-year survival rates but median survival times as well. (Median survival time is the number of years that 50% of people with a disease live to or beyond.)
Using the ECOG classification system, lung cancer survival rates and times break down as follows:
Sex
A person’s sex also factors into how long they will survive with lung cancer. Lung cancer tends to develop inwomenat a younger age than men. Even so, women with lung cancer tend to live longer thanmen, in part because they are diagnosed and treated earlier.
Data from Cancer Research UK confirms this, showing a larger percentage of women living at least five years following their diagnosis compared to men. Based on all stages of lung cancer, the current five- and 10-year survival rates for women and men break down as follows:
Smoking Status
Cigarette smokingis not only the number one cause of lung cancer in the United States but is also a factor that can influence survival timesafterthe diagnosis is made
The statistics below are a reflection of lung cancer survival overall, all stages combined.
A comprehensive review of 10 lung cancer studies concluded that the five-year survival rate in current smokers with stage 1 NSCLC is 33%. By contrast, those who quit during or after treatment have a five-year survival rate of 70%.
Why Is Lung Cancer Increasing in Non-Smokers?
Type of Surgery
Surgery is typically the treatment of choice for people with stage 1 NSCLC, and the type of surgery used is an important consideration that can influence long term and short term survival times. The three most common forms of lung surgery are:
Lobectomy is generally preferred for the treatment of stage 1 NSCLC. Even so, pneumonectomy cannot be avoided in certain cases, particularly in people over 70 in whom the surgery offers a higher chance of cure.
One study found that the 90-day mortality rate for pneumonectomy was 12.6% (or roughly one of every 12 surgeries). By contrast, in the same study, the 90-day mortality for wedge resection and lobectomy was 5.7% and 3.9%, respectively.
According to a 2018 study in theJournal of Thoracic Disease,wedge resection surgery is associated with a five-year survival rate of 74% in people with stage 1 NSCLC.
Is Stage 1 Lung Cancer Curable?Thecure rate for lungcancer detected and treated early is as high as 80%, according to data from Mount Sinai researchers.But much depends on the type of cancer, specific treatments, and other factors. If your cancer symptoms go away, and imaging tests find no cancer, it may be described as “no evidence of disease” (NED) rather than cured, since cancer’s return is not uncommon.
Is Stage 1 Lung Cancer Curable?
Thecure rate for lungcancer detected and treated early is as high as 80%, according to data from Mount Sinai researchers.But much depends on the type of cancer, specific treatments, and other factors. If your cancer symptoms go away, and imaging tests find no cancer, it may be described as “no evidence of disease” (NED) rather than cured, since cancer’s return is not uncommon.
Quality of Life After Lung Cancer Surgery
Summary
Although the prognosis for stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer is generally better than other stages, this shouldn’t suggest that there is “less” to worry about. Stage 1 typically requires surgery, for example.
Some modifiable risk factors, like smoking, can erase some of the gains you’ve made following lung cancer treatment. On the flip side, pulmonary rehabilitation may help restore lung function and can potentially extend survival times well.
By adjustingmodifiable risk factorsand embracing a healthier lifestyle, you not only to stand to live longer but if you achieve remission, you may prevent the return of lung cancer, too.
How to Cope and Live Well With Lung Cancer
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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