| While it is a dreaded condition that nobody wants to | | | | chances of survival are fairly high. It is important to |
| talk about; every patient and family member wants to | | | | know that approximately 37% of those who are |
| know about their chances for surviving lung cancer. Its | | | | diagnosed with lung cancer are in the latter stages |
| important to know from a medical point of view and its | | | | where the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or |
| important to know from a personal, emotional point of | | | | other parts of the body, complicating the condition, and |
| view. Most people prefer hard survival rate statistics, | | | | reducing the survival rate significantly. |
| though they realize that each patient is different and | | | | An even larger number of patients, approximately 39 |
| each cancer cell is unpredictable. | | | | percent, are not diagnosed until after the cancer has |
| The first and most important criteria is the stage in | | | | had a chance to spread to far-reaching parts of the |
| which, the cancer exists within the patients body at | | | | body, what is called the distant stage of cancer. It has |
| that time of diagnosis. Has it developed to other parts | | | | metastasized and is no longer confined to just the |
| of the body, in particular the brain, whereby chances of | | | | lungs. When this happens, treatment options are |
| full or even partial recovery are extremely poor. Even | | | | extremely limited, and sometimes treatment is |
| with aggressive treatment, surviving late state lung | | | | discouraged altogether because of the hopelessness |
| cancer is a tremendous task for anyone. | | | | of the situation. |
| A major factor that will also impact the rate of survival | | | | In the years between 1995 and 2002, a study was |
| is the general health and medical history of the patient. | | | | conducted to determine the survival rate of people |
| Doctors are very concerned about a number of | | | | whom had been diagnosed with lung cancer five |
| conditions that a patient could currently have which | | | | years earlier. The study found that approximately 17 |
| could contribute to the spread of the cancer. Is the | | | | percent of white women survived, 10 percent of black |
| patient already symptomatic, showing signs such as | | | | men, and nearly 15 percent of black women. Though |
| coughing and difficulty breathing; in which case the | | | | interesting and helpful for doctors and scientists to |
| cancer has advanced and reduces the survival rate. | | | | treat lung cancer; cancer survival in general depends |
| Apart from getting the best treatment possible, it's | | | | on a host of different factors that make statistics |
| important to stay in good physical and mental shape. | | | | meaningless! |
| Winning the fight against cancer is a tremendous | | | | Most cases of lung cancer are diagnosis BEFORE |
| challenge even for a patient in good physical condition. | | | | any symptoms appear in the patient! Early detection |
| Keeping a good attitude and staying as healthy as | | | | and diagnosis has always been the plea of cancer |
| possible are paramount in the success of any medical | | | | doctors. Anyone with a history of cancer in their |
| treatment. | | | | families, have had the possibility of exposure to |
| Approximately 16% of patients initially diagnosed with | | | | asbestos, heavy user of tobacco products, etc. should |
| lung cancer still only have localized cancer. This means | | | | have medical examinations regularly by an |
| that it has not yet spread to other parts of the body. | | | | experienced cancer specialist. |
| This is the best diagnosis, it means that a patient' | | | | |