The answer to this question depends on many factors. Generally, the prognosis for people with lung cancer is poor, with the average five-year survival rate being less than 10%. However, many factors can affect a person’s prognosis, including the type of lung cancer, the stage of the cancer, the person’s age, overall health, and how well the cancer is responding to treatment.
For instance, those with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tend to have a better prognosis than those with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). In addition, those with early-stage NSCLC have a five-year survival rate of about 50%, while those with late-stage NSCLC have a five-year survival rate of less than 10%.
Similarly, those with SCLC have a five-year survival rate of about 5-6% if the cancer is in its limited stage, and less than 1% for its extensive stage.
Age is also a factor, with the five-year survival rate for those over 65 being about 3-4%, while those under 65 have a five-year survival rate of about 10-15%.
The person’s overall health and how well the cancer is responding to treatment are also important factors. A person’s response to treatment, for instance, can have a significant impact on their prognosis. Those with cancer that is responding well to treatment may live longer than those whose cancer is not responding as well.
In short, there is no single answer to the question of how long a person with lung cancer may live. It depends on a variety of factors, including the type and stage of the cancer, the person’s age and overall health, and how well the cancer is responding to treatment.