Lung cancer is a major malignant tumor that poses a significant threat to human health worldwide, with persistently high incidence and mortality rates. In China, it is the type of cancer with the highest mortality rate among all malignant tumors.
What is even more worrying is that early-stage lung cancer often lacks obvious symptoms. By the time most patients are diagnosed, the disease has already reached the middle or advanced stage, increasing the difficulty of treatment. Faced with a lung cancer diagnosis, patients and their families are often filled with confusion and anxiety.
Today, we have specially invited Professor Yang Nong, a specially-appointed expert from Hainan Cancer Hospital, to provide professional interpretations on common concerns of lung cancer patients.
Qustions & Answers
Q: Can patients with advanced lung cancer survive for more than five years?
Professor Yang Nong: According to the data we currently have, the probability of overall survival exceeding five years for advanced non-small cell lung cancer is approximately 20% to 30%.
The most crucial factor is undoubtedly the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (i.e., immunotherapy), which can increase the five-year survival rate of advanced non-small cell lung cancer to 20% - 30%.
When there is a powerful treatment method that can significantly reduce the tumor burden, making the tumors shrink in size and decrease in number, the remaining tumors can be eliminated through effective local treatment measures. In this way, the probability of patients achieving long-term survival will be greatly enhanced.
Qustions & Answers
Q:What are the 5-year survival rates for different types of lung cancer?
Professor Yang Nong: For any malignant tumor, it is necessary to consider the pathological type, molecular pathological type and stage together. The survival time varies greatly among different types.
Lung cancer treatment primarily depends on its stage. For stage I lung cancer, regardless of the malignancy level, the overall survival time is relatively long and the cure rate is relatively high. However, among stage I lung cancer patients, if there are certain special pathological features - such as a high proportion of micropapillary components, accompanied by intrabronchial dissemination or vascular tumor thrombus - even if they are in stage 1A, the recurrence and metastasis probability of these patients will be higher, and active intervention and treatment are required.
Therefore, the assessment of survival rate must first consider the stage and then combine it with the pathological type. For some patients, attention should also be paid to molecular typing: even if they are in stage three or four, if the molecular typing is ideal and there are targeted drugs available, combined with comprehensive treatment, patients may also achieve long-term survival and even clinical cure.
Qustions & Answers
Q: Is whether a person gets lung cancer entirely related to genes?
Professor Yang Nong: It is certain that the occurrence of cancer is due to errors in DNA. The only thing to distinguish is which are congenital conditions and which are acquired factors.
First of all, the innate conditions depend on proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. If a patient has a proto-oncogene foundation and is exposed to triggering factors in the future - including special environments, inhalation of cooking fumes, PM2.5, exposure to radioactive elements, special work experiences, and a history of chronic lung diseases - in such a situation where both proto-oncogenes and external promoting factors are present, these patients are more likely to develop cancer. However, it is impossible for us to predict when a person will get cancer. This is currently beyond our reach.
Another factor that needs to be mentioned is tumor suppressor genes. Mutations in tumor suppressor genes can lead to the loss of their tumor-suppressing function, making it easier for cancer to grow and spread. If a person has problems with both proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, the possibility of them developing cancer is even greater. We often hear about some elderly people who live a long life despite smoking and drinking. Such people are likely to have relatively strong tumor suppressor genes, which ensures their longevity.
So, whether one gets lung cancer or not is related to genes, but it is necessary to distinguish which are congenital and which are induced later in life.
[Expert Introduction]
Yang Nong
Chief Physician, Doctoral Supervisor
Long-term contracted experts of Hainan Cancer Hospital and Hainan Chengmei Hospital
Currently, he serves as the vice president of the Second Peoples Hospital of Hunan Province, the leading figure of the oncology department, and the director of "Yang Nong Famous Doctor Clinic" / "Yang Nong Famous Doctor Expert Team Clinic". He is also the chief expert of the National Major Science and Technology Project, a member of the Lung Cancer Special Committee of the National Cancer Quality Control Center, the director of the Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer, and the director of the Hunan Provincial Clinical Medical Research Center for Respiratory Tumors. He has been dedicated to the precise targeted treatment of lung and gastrointestinal tumors, as well as the clinical, research and teaching of difficult, recurrent and drug-resistant cases for nearly 30 years.
He was honored with the title of "Outstanding Style" at the 6th "National Famous Doctor" award, and has been consecutively selected as the "Annual Good Doctor" by patients for 8 years. He was also named as one of the "Top Brain Doctors". He has authored national guidelines and won the third prize of Hunan Province Science and Technology Award. He has over 500,000 followers on all social media platforms, and his anti-cancer science popularization videos have been viewed over 120 million times.
Medical expertise
Main focus: Precision treatment of lung cancer, breakthroughs in difficult, recurrent, drug-resistant and brain metastasis cases; individualized and precise treatment of lung cancer brain metastases; early diagnosis of pulmonary nodules and lung cancer; personalized comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of various solid tumors; clinical trials of the latest immunotherapy and targeted therapy drugs.
With nearly 30 years of experience in precise immunotherapy and targeted therapy for lung cancer, he has led nearly 400 phase I-III clinical trials of new anti-cancer drugs (including national first-class new drugs), and is particularly skilled in treating complex cases such as difficult-to-treat, recurrent and drug-resistant cases, as well as brain metastases.
Early diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary nodules and lung cancer, with over 2,000 cases diagnosed annually (cumulative over 10,000 cases from 2019 to 2024), and a detection rate of approximately over 90% (retrospective study in 2023).
At the same time, he/she is proficient in the comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of multiple types of solid tumors (such as stomach, intestine, brain, etc.), personalized and interdisciplinary.
Professor Yang Nong has treated over 14,000 patients annually (data from 2023).
Manage the "Lung Cancer Immunotherapy Targeted Treatment Patient Group", conduct long-term follow-up management of over 4,000 long-term surviving lung cancer patients, and accumulate rich clinical experience.
[Consultation Information]
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[Outpatient Clinic Time and Location]
July 20th, 8:00 - 12:00
The Sixth Clinic Area of Hainan Cancer Hospital
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[Appointment for Registration]
Follow the official WeChat account of Hainan Cancer Hospital "Appointment Registration"
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[Health Consultation]
13876807106
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[Warm Reminder]
To facilitate the experts prompt understanding of your condition, please bring:
1.ID card, medical insurance card, mobile phone
2. Accompanying immediate family members (with decision-making power)
3. Arrange the relevant examinations that have been done in chronological order.
4. Paper medical records of previous visits
5. Surgical case sections: Paraffin blocks or 20-30 white slides
6. Pathological Diagnosis Report
7. Inpatient medical records and notes
8. Recent Relevant Examinations
9. The current treatment plan for the patient