Lung Cancer Prognosis

Lung cancer has a poor prognosis.

On average, people with untreated advanced non–small cell lung cancer survive 6 months.

Even with treatment, people with extensive small cell lung cancer or advanced non–small cell lung cancer do especially poorly, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 1%.

Early diagnosis improves survival. People with early non–small cell lung cancer have a 5-year survival of 60 to 70%.