Diagnosis and what comes next
Hearing the words "you have lung cancer" is life-changing. But a diagnosis is also the point where treatment, support and planning for what comes next can begin.
Lung cancer treatment has changed a great deal in recent years. Finding out the type of lung cancer, its stage and any biomarkers helps the team choose the right treatment. And no one should have to face a diagnosis alone.
Support and hope after a diagnosis
A lung cancer diagnosis affects every part of someone's life, not only their physical health, yet many people are not offered emotional support when they need it most. And when lung cancer is found early, the outlook can be very good: more than 9 in 10 people who have surgery for the earliest stage of non-small cell lung cancer are alive five years later.
When you hear the words lung cancer
Everyone reacts differently to a diagnosis, and support from the right people can make a real difference.
Life after lung cancer surgery
“Life after surgery isn’t just about surviving;
it’s about thriving.”
Jackie's lung cancer was found early, and she had keyhole surgery six weeks after her diagnosis. She needed no further treatment, and has since run a 230 km ultramarathon through Kenya.
Stories about diagnosis and what comes next
Worried about a symptom?
Questions for ask your team:
What type of lung cancer is it, and what stage?
Has my cancer been tested for biomarkers, and what did the results show?
What are my treatment options, and what are the aims of each?
Who is my main contact, and how can I reach them? What support is available for me and my family?
You don't have to ask everything at once. Write questions down as you think of them, and bring someone with you if you can.
From first symptom to diagnosis
Five stages, each told from both sides.
- Noticing something When something changes, and deciding what to do about it
- Going to primary care The first appointment, from both sides of the desk
- Suspected lung cancer When a scan shows something, but there is no answer yet
- Tests and getting an answer Scans, biopsies and the team keeping everything moving
- Diagnosis and what comes next The right diagnosis, and the support that follows