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What Is The Life Expectancy Of Lung Cancer?

When you’re first diagnosed, you’ll be looking at the lung cancer survival rate statistics and there’s no denying they’re scary with only 17% of those diagnosed with lung cancer living beyond five years. But those living with lung cancer are living better, longer lives with improved treatment and a better understanding of what their options are.

It’s true that life expectancy statistics don’t paint a great picture, and it’s normal to feel anxious about the future. But advances in science and research mean we’re seeing new and emerging treatments, and those living with lung cancer can participate in an increasing number of clinical trials.

What is the life expectancy of lung cancer? Well, when I was diagnosed, I was actually given eighteen months to live, and thirteen and a half years later, we’re still here. So, look, it’s scary when it first happens, that flush that goes from your big toe to the top of your forehead is just…It’s nothing. You can’t explain it to anyone. You don’t know until you experience it, and that fear, and no one knows that fear until they actually say that “C word” to you.

So, it’s all very real. You need people to help you on that journey when you do that. So, because you don’t know what to do. You’re so confused with your emotions that you really don’t know where to turn to and what to do. So, we hooked up with mental health straight away, and we did that through a psychologist, and they gave us some tools to manage what we did on a daily basis and things like that, which was really important for us because people would say, “Oh, you’re so positive.”

And I’m thinking, “If I have a bad day, does that mean I’m going to die faster?” Well, no, it doesn’t. You’re allowed to have good days, and you’re allowed to have bad days. And that’s part of the journey. The other couple of things that I did was exercise. I had lung removal three or four times, and so you need to keep building your capacity up all the time. And that exercise was really good, so increments of walking and things like that, just to keep busy, and it helps with your mental health a little bit too because you’re not sitting there. You’re not pondering on it all the time. And the other really big one for us was food. We went to a nutritionist. We went to dietitians, and that really helped us.

And I think those three things are really important. Do I think it gives you longevity? It did for us. It’s worked for us, and we’ve been lucky in that space, but it’s all something that to think about and certainly go to those people and look for that information and source that stuff out because it is really important, and you do need the support as you go. Lung Cancer Search and Rescue. Hope in every breath.

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Terry
Terri, 51 QLD
Lung Foundation Australia is here to help you lead the best life you can by connecting you and your loved ones to support and care, linking you to life-saving clinical trials and supporting active participation in lung health research. Connect with us today to find out more or to access support.
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