Lung cancer is the leading cause of death among all cancers. It is also difficult to diagnose early. The age at which most diagnoses are made is 70. The survival rate of someone with lung cancer decreases with age. Here’s more on the lifespans of seniors diagnosed with lung cancer.
What is lung cancer?
A cancer that starts in the lungs is known as lung cancer. Cancer itself is a disease that occurs when the bodily cells grow out of control. Lung cancer falls into one of two types: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer.
The American Cancer Society reports that 80 to 85 percent of lung cancers are non-small lung cancers. The three primary subtypes of non-small lung cancers are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. Less common are adenosquamous carcinoma and sarcomatoid carcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma, which starts in the lung cells that produce mucus, occurs predominantly in people who smoke or used to smoke. But it’s also the most common type of lung cancer seen in individuals who do not smoke. Women and younger people are primarily affected.
Similarly, squamous cell carcinoma is linked to people with a history of smoking. The third type, large cell carcinoma, appears in any part of the lungs and is harder to treat; it grows and spreads quickly, which contributes to the difficulty in treating this type of lung cancer.
Who does lung cancer mostly affect?
Lung cancer primarily occurs in the elderly. The majority of people who are diagnosed with this disease are over 65 years of age; rarely are people under 45 diagnosed with lung cancer. As mentioned, the average age at which a diagnosis is made is 70.
In the US, lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths, consisting of 1 in every 5 cancer deaths. Per the American Cancer Society, more people die of lung cancer each year than any other type of cancer, including breast, colon, and prostate cancers.
What is the survival rate for lung cancer patients?
As age increases, the survival rate for lung cancer patients decreases. Various factors determine how long a person with lung cancer will live. The type of lung cancer and the stage at which the lung cancer is diagnosed play large parts in determining survival rates.
Survival rates are higher, at 98 percent, for certain lung cancers diagnosed at an early stage. On the other hand, survival rates drop significantly, to 4 percent, when lung cancer is detected at a late stage and the cancer has become aggressive.
In general, lung cancer patients are given a relative 5-year survival rate (the number of years a person is still alive after being diagnosed). However, lung cancer patients’ survival rates cannot be accurately predicted, as several variables affect their survival.
What factors affect a lung cancer patient’s survival rate?
1. Age of Diagnosis
The age at which an elderly individual is diagnosed with lung cancer impacts their survival rate. The survival rate for an older adult between 65 and 74 who is diagnosed with small cell lung cancer is 8.5 percent. The survival rate falls to 5.1 percent for those 75 and older.
Seniors between the ages of 65 and 74 who are diagnosed with large cell lung cancer are given a 23.8 percent survival rate. The survival rate drops sharply to 16.5 percent when the older adult is 75 years or older.
In patients aged 65 to 74 and diagnosed with squamous cell lung cancer, their survival rate is expected to be 27.8 percent. As in small cell lung cancer and large cell lung cancer, the survival rate of patients over 75 falls—specifically, to 20.9 percent.
2. Other Health Conditions
Lung cancer patients who live with other serious medical conditions have a lower chance of surviving lung cancer. Example of diseases include heart disease, diabetes, and other lung diseases. If complications arise in an aging lung cancer patient, it can reduce their survival rate.
3. Smoking
Seniors who continue to smoke after being diagnosed with lung cancer reduce their survival rate. Fortunately, quitting smoking increases the chances of surviving early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Quitting three months after diagnosis leads to a 62 percent survival rate.
Where do elderly lung cancer patients receive care?
Over 50 percent of people with lung cancer live less than 1 year after diagnosis. When treatments for lung cancer no longer work, the senior’s physician may recommend hospice care. The majority of hospice patients opt to receive care in the comfort of home.
An aging lung cancer patient is likely to need help with daily activities and supervision 24 hours a day. When the senior elects home-based care, a primary caregiver provides hands-on care. Assisting Hands Home Care provides compassionate in-home care to older care recipients at any stage of disease.
Our attentive caregivers support the daily care needs of seniors. We provide respectful assistance with personal hygiene tasks, like bathing, toileting, and grooming as well as incontinence care. The elderly are given timely medication reminders to support their overall health. We perform light housekeeping to keep the home clean and clutter-free.
Seniors who struggle with physical or cognitive decline receive support with morning and bedtime routines. We provide safe transportation and escort to local destinations, such as the medical clinic and pharmacy. Caregivers shop for groceries, prepare healthy meals, and serve beverages.
Our professional caregivers are also great companions who ease social isolation and loneliness with pleasant conversations, games, puzzles, leisure activities, and hobbies. Senior companionship is vital to aging adults who are homebound because of disability, struggle with mobility challenges, or live alone.
Senior home care from Assisting Hands Home Care is the solution when your aging loved one is diagnosed with lung cancer or simply prefers extra support. We serve Batavia, Illinois, and the surrounding areas. Schedule a free in-home consult today at (630) 948-8193 and learn more about quality elder care.
