Stage 4 lung cancer can means 3 things namely, that the cancer has spread to both lungs; it has spread to another area of the body like the bones or liver; it has lead to a collection of fluid around the heart or lung containing cancerous cells. This is called a pericardial effusion (heart) or malignant pleural effusion (lungs).

 

Pleural effusion is when fluid builds up between pleura or membranes that surround the outside of each lung. When the lungs expand and contract with breathing, the fluid takes up the space making it extremely hard to breath using a full lung capacity therefore resulting in breathlessness. When fluid is extracted, it is tested for cancer cells and if detected this is considered lung cancer stage 4. The presence of fluid does not necessarily mean the cancer has spread and if the fluid does not contain cancerous cell this does not count towards the 4th stage of cancer. Pleural effusion is just one of the several factors that medical professionals consider when deciding the stage.

 

Stage 4 lung cancer prognosis and treatment depends largely on the stage, the histological type of cancer and the patient’s performance status (a measure of the general well being and therefore tolerance to treatment). The most likely treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.

 

There are two main types of lung cancer – small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The treatment varies depending on which one is diagnosed so the distinction is important. Stage 4 lung cancer life expectancy varies greatly from person to person such as:

patient’s age – younger patients are more likely to live longer than older patients.

 

type of lung cancer and its location – within stage 4 there are several types of lung cancer which may have stayed in one place or spread to one or several locations.

 

general health when diagnosed – those with good all round health are expected to live longer. Survival can be extended with the ability to stand up to treatments.

 

sex of the patient – female sufferers have a higher life expectancy at each stage of lung cancer.

 

response to treatments – people respond differently to the side effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapies. If there is a low tolerance to these side effects then treatment could be limited.

 

lung cancer complications such as blood clots can reduce life expectancy.

 

additional health conditions for example, asthma or emphysema.

 

Statistically, the life expectancy of stage 4 NSCLC is sadly only about 8 months. The five year lung cancer survival rate (the amount of patients expected to live to five years after a diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer) is less than 10%. However, bear in mind that although lung cancer is not usually curable but it is treatable.

 

Staging cancer helps doctors assess the extent that a cancer has spread. Scans and tests carried out to help diagnose the cancer provide information about the stage however, an operation maybe the only way to obtain a definitive answer. But, in the majority of cases, the tests are adequate enough.

All cancer staging is determined by several factors namely, whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, the size of the tumor and whether it has moved to other areas of the body.

 

There are a variety of tests. A CT scan looks though section of the body using x-rays. Or a combined PET-CT scan gives in depth pictures of the body’s structures and uses a slightly radioactive dye which focuses on areas where there is abnormal activity in cell growth.

 

A bronchoscopy test uses a flexible, narrow tube which is inserted into the nose or throat down into the windpipe. This is normally carried out under local anesthetic however, a sedative or general anesthetic is sometimes used.

 

A tumor biopsy test involves the insertion of a very fine needle into the lung through the skin. The patient holds their breath while this is taking place and only takes a two to three minutes. The collected cells are then taken for examination.

 

Lung cancer can be caused by various factors such as tobacco smoke (most common cause), radon gas, genetic factors, air pollution (including second had tobacco smoke) and asbestos. Asbestos exposure leads to a rarer kind of cancer called mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma symptoms can be general such as chest pain, shortness of breath and a persistent cough. There are two types namely, malignant mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma.

 

So, stage 4 lung cancer is a serious disease however, advances in treatments and new clinical trials are aiming to reduce the symptoms and help to improve survival.