Prostate Cancer Survival Rates and Statistics, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), National Cancer Institute-designated treatment centers, Survival by histologic subtype in stage IV nonsmall cell lung cancer based on data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program, The 8th lung cancer TNM classification and clinical staging system: Review of the changes and clinical implications, Revisions to the Tumor, Node, Metastasis staging of lung cancer (8 edition): Rationale, radiologic findings and clinical implications, Progress and prospects of early detection in lung cancer, Lung and bronchus cancer SEER 5-year relative survival rates, 2010-2016 by stage at diagnosis and age, both sexes, all races (includes Hispanic). However, stage 4 cancer is not always terminal. Clinical trials are a key testing ground for determining the effectiveness and safety of new treatments for many types and stages of cancer, including stage IV lung cancer. There are three main types of non-small cell lung cancer: Stage IV lung cancer may be divided into stage IVA and stage IVB, depending on the where the disease has spread. Symptoms of terminal cancer: Profound fatigue is very common in the late stages of lung cancer. Weight loss is also almost universal, and it occurs even when people are eating a diet with adequate calories. Unlike traditional chemotherapy drugs, these medications don't attack all fast-replicating cells. How Long Can I Live If I Get Colon Cancer? Quant Imaging Med Surg. The stage of lung cancer is determined using the TNM classification system, which categorizes the severity of the disease based on three conditions: With stage 4 lung cancer, all three of these conditions will have occurred. My chronically terminal lung cancer is being treated to keep it at bay, not as a cure. 2012;77(3):545-9. doi:10.1016/j.lungcan.2012.04.019, Kao J, Gold KD, Zarrili G, et al. If the cancer has spread to the bones, it may cause bone pain or fractures. At CTCA, our lung cancer doctors and other clinicians are committed to helping you understand the challenges that come with a stage IV lung cancer diagnosis, so you can make informed decisions about your care. The decision to quit is ultimately a personal one, but something that should always be discussed prior to the start of cancer treatment. Stage 4 Liver Cancer has been indicated as one of the most fatal cancer. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0124329, Linhas ARD, Dias MCP, Barroso AMP. Non-small lung cancers may grow more slowly than small cell lung cancers. Gender and outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer: an old prognostic variable comes back for targeted therapy and immunotherapy?. The SEER system classifies cancer in one of three broader categories: Under the SEER classification system, distant disease and stage 4 cancer are synonymous. Targeted therapy:These drugs are designed to target specific receptors or proteins on cancer cells to slow tumor growth. 1) We put him on a diet of cancer fighting foods 2) We cut his sugar intake as much as possible. Having one or more comorbidities not only complicates lung cancer treatment but significantly impacts life expectancy. Stage 4 Terminal Lung Cancer & Still Smoking Hello all. Stage 4 lung cancer life expectancy without treatment - There is a wide range of sorts of lung cancer, however, the two fundamental sorts are little cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-little cell lung cancer (NSCLC).SCLC comprises about 15% of lung cancer while NSCLC comprises approximately 85%. Patients who have been diagnosed with stage IV cancer may consider getting a second opinion to confirm the diagnosis and explore treatment options. Lung cancer is staged to classify the severity of the disease. Emerging therapies for non-small cell lung cancer. There can be significant variations in the ability to function in everyday life, which doctors referred to as performance status (PS). With that said, the extent of metastasis can vary along with the prognosis. Not everyone has these genetic mutations, but, if they do, the drugs can significantly improve survival times. 2020. Using the ECOG PS Score, lung cancer survival rates and times (for all stages) break down as follows: Among people with stage 4 lung cancer, an ECOG score of 0 translates to no less than an 11-fold increase in six-month survival rates compared to an ECOG score of 4, according to a 2015 study published in PLoS One., It is never too late to stop smoking. Different types of cancer have different rates of survival in stage 4. Depending on where the disease has spread, stage IV lung cancer may cause symptoms such as pain, fatigue or difficulty breathing. About 10 percent of all lung cancers are small cell lung cancers. The symptoms of stage IV lung cancer may depend on where in the body the disease has spread. Mental confusion, also called delirium, is a change in a person’s awareness. 2019;8(8):4023-31. doi:10.1002/cam4.2280, Kelly CM, Shahrokni A. The three most common types are: These characteristics can influence survival times in people with stage 4 NSCLC. These potentially fatal chronic diseases are managed with medications, allowing people to live otherwise normal lives. PLoS ONE. When lung cancer reaches its final stage, the patient will experience several physical and emotional changes. Epidemiologists classify five-year survival rates in one of two ways. Questions about life expectancy are often the first ones asked when someone is diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer, the most advanced stage of the disease in which cancer has spread (metastasized) from the primary tumor to distant organs. Types of lung cancer. Open Biol. At Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA), we offer a variety of treatment options to patients with stage IV lung cancer, including immunotherapy, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. 2017;9(6):269-79. doi:10.4329/wjr.v9.i6.269, Blandin knight S, Crosbie PA, Balata H, Chudziak J, Hussell T, Dive C. Progress and prospects of early detection in lung cancer. Although doctors stage other cancers from stage I to stage IV, small-cell lung cancer is classified into two stages. Weekend after diagnosis, begin first fast. Cancer Med. As part of our commitment to providing innovative treatment options to our patients, the doctors at CTCA® may recommend that stage IV lung cancer patients enroll in carefully selected clinical trials. Qualifying patients may also be candidates for clinical trials, which may offer treatments not otherwise available. On top of all these blessings, I’m feeling great. The experts at our lung cancer centers collaborate daily, delivering personalized treatments tailored to each patient’s needs and goals. This is where my story begins. Surgery: Surgery may be an option to remove tumors from the lungs and the chest cavity and to remove affected lymph nodes. New York (CNN Business) Rush Limbaugh, the conservative talk show radio host, is battling stage 4 lung cancer and said Monday he's had a … There are two main forms of primary lung cancer. The treatment of stage 4 NSCLC has evolved dramatically in recent years with the introduction of targeted therapies approved specifically for the treatment of metastatic lung cancer. November 2018 Doru Paul, MD, is triple board-certified in medical oncology, hematology, and internal medicine. As distressing as this statistic may be, it is important to remember that stage 4 lung cancer has no set course. Hong H, Wang Q, Li J, Liu H, Meng X, Zhang H. Aging, cancer and immunity. Natural history and factors associated with overall survival in stage IV ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer. Smoking cessation before initiation of chemotherapy in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: Influence on prognosis. Compared to women, men are less likely to have "treatable" gene mutations—that is, those that are responsive to newer targeted therapies used for stage 4 disease. Picture 1 – Stage IV liver cancer. Tax-ID: 73-1386920. The median survival time for those with stage 4 lung cancer is around four months, which means that 50% of patients will still be alive four months after their diagnosis.. Rush Limbaugh Says His Lung Cancer Is Terminal "Stage 4 is, as they say, terminal," the conservative radio host said. Because of this, there is less collateral damage to normal cells and fewer side effects. Gender and outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer: an old prognostic variable comes back for targeted therapy and immunotherapy? There are two main subtypes of small cell lung cancer: This is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for 90 percent of all lung cancer diagnoses. Some people will feel great pain, others not so much. These recipes focus on antioxidant-rich foods to better protect you and your loved ones. In fact, according to the National Cancer Institute, about 66 percent of patients diagnosed with small cell lung cancer and about 40 percent of patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer have stage IV disease. Dying is an individual life event. Confusion affects how a person thinks, sees the world around them, and remembers things.The main signs of mental confusion or delirium are sudden changes in awareness. Being diagnosed with bladder cancer can be overwhelming, especially if it’s stage 4. She was released from hospital on the 19th which just happened to be my birthday so this was seen as a good omen. Instead, they recognize and attack cancer cells with specific "treatable" mutations. Does Stage 4 Cancer Mean That It Is Terminal? At CTCA, we treat cancer patients the way we would want our own families to be treated. Treatments, therefore, are focused on slowing the progression of the disease, minimizing symptoms, and maintaining an optimal quality of life. I'm writing about my mother who was diagnosed as having lung cancer which spread to her brain on February 17th. Designating the type of lung cancer is a critical first step in understanding treatment options. Survival rates are ever-increasing, and newer medications can now personalize treatment in ways that were once unheard of. Even among people with stage 4 lung cancer, quitting cigarettes prior to the start of chemotherapy can increase survival time by as much as six months, according to research published in the Brazilian Journal of Pneumonology.. The three most common mutations are: The effect of these drugs on survival times has been impressive. I was 25 years old and given six months to live. Theatre 4 Lung Cancer and Survival Rate – is stage 4 lung cancer terminal The most developed instance of lung tumor is announced stagecoach 4 lung flourishing. Learn more about the Mother Standard of care, Make a difference in the fight against cancer by donating to cancer research, Gateway for Cancer Research is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. This is due to the fact that people over 70 are often in poorer general health and have immune systems that are less able to temper tumor growth., Older age not only influences the progression of the disease but survival rates as well. Despite undergoing aggressive treatment regimens at the hands of conventional cancer “experts,” Limbaugh’s stage 4 lung cancer went terminal. This is the approach used by the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. This page is about primary lung cancer. The radio host said that while everyone knows they will die at some point, "when you have a terminal disease diagnosis that has a time frame to it, then that puts a different psychological and even physical awareness to it." Immunotherapy: Drugs known as checkpoint inhibitors may be used to help the immune system better recognize and attack lung cancer cells. J Thorac Oncol. This disease is often very aggressive and may spread quickly. Cetin K, Ettinger DS, Hei YJ, O'malley CD. National Institutes of Health. For this reason, stage 4 NSCLC was broken down into two substages with the release of the new TNM classification system in 2018.. Our view at CANCERactive is that it is extremely unlikely that any one thing cures cancer - and certainly not all cancers. The staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) helps doctors choose the most appropriate course of treatment based on the likely outcome, referred to as the prognosis. If the cancer has spread to the liver, it may cause nausea, fatigue, bloating, jaundice or swelling in the extremities. There are several ways that PS is measured, the most common of which is called the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) PS Score that rates PS on a scale of 0 to 5. For instance: If the cancer has spread to the bones, it may cause bone pain or fractures. First a quick reminder on the four stages of cancer diagnosis: Stage 1 - this usually means that a cancer is relatively small and contained within the organ it started in.. In this stage, the disease has spread, or metastasized, from the lung in which it originated to the other lung, the pericardium (membrane around the heart and lungs), chest and/or other areas of the body. The symptoms of stage IV lung cancer may depend on where in the body the disease has spread. 2017;7(9):170070. doi:10.1098/rsob.170070. Subsequently she has had radiotherapy for the brain cancer and while we wait for the diagnosis, she … In stage 4, the cancer has spread (metastasized) to both lungs, the area around the … 1  As distressing as this statistic may be, it is important to remember that stage 4 lung cancer has no set course. The median survival time for those with stage 4 lung cancer is around four months, which means that 50% of patients will still be alive four months after their diagnosis. The information on this page was reviewed and approved by Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science at CTCA. loss of appetite, nausea, neuropathy and/or other side effects. Staging of the cancer provides important information about the outlook of the patient's condition and helps the doctor plan the best treatment. Overall, the most common comorbidities in people with lung cancer are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and congestive heart failure (CHF). Most people reach it after years of living with the disease and the lung damage it causes. Almost without exception, people with a PS in this range will survive longer than those with a PS of 3, 4, or 5.. Updated June 10, 2020. Newer targeted therapies and immunotherapies are also helping people with stage 4 cancer live longer with fewer side effects and a better quality of life. Stage 4 lung cancer life expectancy is typically gauged using five-year survival rates, which estimate the percentage of people who will live for at least five years following the initial diagnosis. Comorbidity and survival in lung cancer patients. Limited stage: In this stage, the tumor is confined to a single radiation field. Cancer that spreads to the lungs from another place in the body is known as secondary lung cancer. Read the story of my diagnosis here. Pain associated with terminal cancer may worsen or become harder to control near the end of life. The overall 5-year survival rate for both stages of small cell lung cancer (limited stage plus extensive stage) is only about 6 percent. He was told he had 6 months to live. After tweaking things some, Limbaugh is now a little more optimistic, having previously thought that he would not even make it to October, but the whole process has been a “roller coaster,” as he puts it. In stage IVB lung cancer, the disease has spread to multiple places in one or more distant organs or bones. Pain. At CTCA, our team of doctors and clinicians work closely with integrative care experts, including nutrition-therapy, naturopathic providers, physical therapists and mind-body therapists, to help you manage side effects and maintain your strength and stamina throughout treatment. This is often experienced by people with advanced cancer, and other who are in the last stage of life. What Is Stage 3 Lung Cancer Life Expectancy? In some cases, treatments may be palliative, used to ease the symptoms associated with the disease and improve quality of life. Well my father has always been one that will decide his destiny. The cancer had spread to the lining of the lungs, and she had fluid buildup around her heart. Lumps in the neck or around the collarbone. Regardless of the situation, the health care team will provide the Their practitioners are more likely to be on top of the current research and treatment strategies. ", Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. He is an associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and attending physician in the Department of Hematology Oncology at the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. Updated March 9, 2015. Sometimes stage 2 means that cancer cells have spread into lymph nodes close to the tumour. Clin Epidemiol. 2015;24(7):1079-85. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-15-0036. doi:10.1136/esmoopen-2018-000344, Wang C, Qiao W, Jiang Y, et al. 2018;3(3):e000344. 2015;10(7):e0132748. J Cancer. While Limbaugh said he has "advanced lung cancer," an advanced cancer does not always mean it is also a stage IV cancer, as cancer can be advanced but not have spread to … My terminal, late-stage, lung cancer is being managed similarly to chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, and high blood pressure. As a result, men prescribed drugs like Keytruda (pembrolizumab) tend to have lower overall and progression-free survival than women.. If the cancer has spread to the liver, it may cause nausea, fatigue, bloating, jaundice or swelling in the extremities. Yes, it is part of life. Treatment options include: Chemotherapy: Drugs may be given alone, in combination and/or with other treatments. 2019 Apr;14(4):691-700. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2018.12.014, Zhang C, Leighl NB, Wu YL, Zhong WZ. There are cancer cells in fluid in the pleura or around the heart. Didn't feel much like talking, hence the cards. This page was updated on November 5, 2020. 2018;44(5):436-8. doi:10.1590/s1806-37562017000000323, Zappa C, Mousa SA. People with stage 4 NSCLC tend to be symptomatic. SCLC regularly develop quickly and has achieved a phase when analyzed. Transl Lung Cancer Res. Multiple factors can influence survival times, some of which (like smoking) are modifiable. End-of-Life Lung Cancer Signs. It’s the driving force in all we do—treating all patients with the compassion and respect they deserve. For example, providing care at home instead of a hospital or hospice facility may include more responsibilities for caregivers. A person with confusion or delirium might suddenly get very sleepy and unaware of their surroundings or act very upset and nervous. Stave IV lung cancer is a complex disease. Targeted drug therapy for non-small cell lung cancer. There are seven factors known to influence survival times in people with stage 4 NSCLC. At CTCA, our lung cancer centers bring together multidisciplinary teams of doctors and other clinicians with the expertise to treat all stages of the disease, including stage IV lung cancer. A 2019 study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology followed 110 people with stage 4 NSCLC from 2009 to 2017, each of whom was treated with Xalkora in first-line therapy along with chemotherapy drugs., According to the research, the median survival time for people treated with Xalkori was 6.8 years, meaning that 50% were still alive by that point in time. 2016;2016:6186543. doi:10.1155/2016/6186543, Salloum RG, Smith TJ, Jensen GA, Lafata JE. As a person nears the end of his or her life, it is difficult to know what to expect. American Cancer Society. I had forgotten how good I could feel.". In this stage, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body such as the other lung, the bone and/or bone marrow, the brain or the fluid around the lungs. 2016;5(3):288-300. doi:10.21037/tlcr.2016.06.07, Islam KM, Jiang X, Anggondowati T, Lin G, Ganti AK. According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer in both men and women. If you have any doubts about treatment recommendations, do not hesitate to seek a second opinion, ideally from a specialist in one of the 71 National Cancer Institute-designated treatment centers in the United States. Non-small cell lung cancer: current treatment and future advances. Cancer staging. 2018;8(7):709-18. doi:10.21037/qims.2018.08.02, Kay FU, Kandathil A, Batra K, Saboo SS, Abbara S, Rajiah P. Revisions to the Tumor, Node, Metastasis staging of lung cancer (8 edition): Rationale, radiologic findings and clinical implications. In most cases, patients first diagnosed with either type are found to have stage IV disease. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Clinical predictors of survival for patients with stage IV cancer referred to radiation oncology. This palliative treatment uses light and light-sensitive agents to shrink tumors in the lung. There are many different types and subtypes of NSCLC, some of which are more aggressive than others. Clinical trials may offer treatment options before they are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and that may be otherwise unavailable. Stage IV lung cancer and treatments for the disease may also come with symptoms and side effects that may affect your quality of life. Limbaugh added that after receiving the … Try not to let survival statistics overwhelm you. The prognosis for stage 4 lung cancer depends on a number of factors, such as the size and location of tumors. The first approach is based on the TNM stage; statistical survival times are matched to the stage of the disease., By contrast, the one-year survival rate for stage 4 lung cancer is between 15% and 19%, meaning this portion of patients with metastatic disease will live for at least a year.. We call it the Mother Standard® of care. Lung Cancer. Sign up and get your guide! Roughly three of every four people with advanced lung cancer have another chronic health condition, referred to as a comorbidity. At CTCA, our team of doctors and clinicians work closely with integrative care experts, including, Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science at CTCA. J Bras Pneumol. Your body is going through changes that have a direct effect on your appetite. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. When a friend or loved one begins experiencing the final symptoms of terminal lung cancer, there can be a lot of variation to how the process unfolds. Most patients are found to have extensive-stage disease when first diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. How Many People Die From Cancer Each Year? These are classified by the type of cells in which the cancer starts growing. The variability in survival rates highlights one key reality about stage 4 lung cancer: no two people have the same disease. National Cancer Institute. Stage 4 lung cancer remains a serious diagnosis, but it is important to remember that it is not the same disease it was just 20 years ago. Many will live for months and even years longer than this. As their names suggests, these types of lung cancer are diagnosed when a pathologist identifies a specific type of diseased cell. Stage IV lung cancer symptoms. Stage 4 lung cancer is incurable. Theatre 4 lung growing survival rates is underneath 5 percentage. Arguably more than any other stage of the disease, stage 4 lung cancer survival is influenced by multiple factors, some of which are fixed (non-modifiable) and others of which can be changed (modifiable). A second method estimates survival rates based on the extent of cancer in the body. By contrast, only 2% of those not on the drug were still alive after five years., Similar results have been seen in people with EGFR or ROS1 mutations, although the effectiveness of treatment can vary considerably by the location of the metastases.. Stage 4 bladder cancer is the most advanced stage and carries the worst prognosis. World J Radiol. Cancer that begins in the lungs is called primary lung cancer. Stage 4 Lung Cancer Treatment Survival by histologic subtype in stage IV nonsmall cell lung cancer based on data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program. With that said, the consequences of smoking cessation—namely, nicotine withdrawal—may outweigh the benefits in heavy smokers who have poor performance status and advanced stage 4b disease. Responsibilities of caregivers may differ based on where the person with cancer is receiving care. 2019;12(1):45. doi:10.1186/s13045-019-0731-8, Ⓒ 2021 About, Inc. (Dotdash) — All rights reserved, Lynne Eldrige, MD, is a lung cancer physician, patient advocate, and award-winning author of "Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time. J Hematol Oncol. Sharon had a 5cm tumor in her lung, as well as three cancer-infected lymph nodes and a small tumor on her collarbone. Rush Limbaugh Says His Stage 4 Lung Cancer Is Heading 'in the Wrong Direction' “Stage 4 is, as they say, terminal,” the conservative radio host said this week With the size and spread of the cancer, she was finally diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer on January 17, 2014. Metastatic tumors, or metastases, are considered secondary tumors and are still considered lung cancer, even when found in other parts of the body. Moreover, the location of the tumor—whether in the airways (as with bronchioloalveolar adenocarcinoma) or in lung tissues themselves—can make a big difference in how long a person survives.. Lim W, Ridge CA, Nicholson AG, Mirsadraee S. The 8th lung cancer TNM classification and clinical staging system: Review of the changes and clinical implications. Likewise, treatments for stage IV lung cancer may cause loss of appetite, nausea, neuropathy and/or other side effects. Cancer cachexia, a syndrome including unintentional weight loss and muscle wasting, is very common in the later stages of cancer. It is distressing to see a loved one suffer, but pain can usually be effectively relieved with medication and simple measures like changing position, massage and music. Under the ECOG system, a score of 0 means that you are fully functional, while a score of 5 indicates death., Research suggests that around half of all people diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer will have "good" PS, defined as an ECOG score of 0 to 2. Stage IV lung cancer, which may also be referred to as extensive-stage cancer, spreads to other parts of the body through the lymph system or bloodstream. Stage IV cancer, also known as stage 4 cancer, is a serious disease that requires immediate expert care. Many other factors also affect survival, such as age and lifestyle. Older age is linked to poorer outcomes in people with lung cancer irrespective of their lung cancer stage. The one drawback to the SEER approach is that stage 4a and 4b lung cancer are melded into one category. ESMO Open. Areas around the lung may include the lymph nodes and/or the previously healthy lung. Male sex is independently associated with poorer outcomes in people with lung cancer in general. Effect of sex on the efficacy of patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Radiation therapy: This treatment may be used to shrink tumors and ease disease-related side effects. I was diagnosed with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer, which is terminal. The cancer has spread to another part of the body, such as the liver, bones or brain. Survival among non-small cell lung cancer patients with poor performance status after first line chemotherapy. Lung and bronchus cancer SEER 5-year relative survival rates, 2010-2016 by stage at diagnosis and age, both sexes, all races (includes Hispanic). Effect of sex on the efficacy of patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer, Moving beyond Karnofsky and ECOG performance status assessments with new technologies, Survival among non-small cell lung cancer patients with poor performance status after first line chemotherapy, Clinical predictors of survival for patients with stage IV cancer referred to radiation oncology, Smoking cessation before initiation of chemotherapy in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: Influence on prognosis, Non-small cell lung cancer: current treatment and future advances, Comorbidity and survival in lung cancer patients, Targeted drug therapy for non-small cell lung cancer, Natural history and factors associated with overall survival in stage IV ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer. 2011;3:139-48. doi:10.2147/CLEP.S17191. Stage IV lung cancer is the most advanced stage of the disease. For instance: Other symptoms of stage IV lung cancer include: There are two main types of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. In some cases, treatments may be considered palliative, offered to ease side effects and improve quality of life. Men are not only more likely to get lung cancer than women but are more likely to die as a result of the disease. These factors contribute to the disparity in the overall five- and 10-year survival rates in women and men. She has even produced a You Tube video - ’ Cannabis killed my terminal Stage IV lung cancer’ on her experience. As such, if you are under age 50 at the time of your diagnosis, you are more than twice as likely to live for at least five years compared to someone 65 and older.. 2019;10(13):3021-3027. doi:10.7150/jca.30723, Pinto JA, Vallejos CS, Raez LE, et al. If the cancer has spread to the brain, it may cause headaches, vision issues, difficulty speaking or seizures. Pacheco JM, Gao D, Smith D, et al. Treatment options for stage IV lung cancer may depend on where and how extensively the cancer has spread. How COVID-19 affects your cancer treatment. Emerging therapies for non-small cell lung cancer. My father age 85 was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in July 2009. Stage 4 Lung Cancer Life Expectancy with and without Treatment. Many will live for months and even years longer than this. J Oncol. This generalized approach not only returns a much lower five-year survival estimate (5.8%) but fails to reflect the wide variability in stage 4 survival rates, particularly in people with limited metastases.