Can early stage lung cancer be cured?

Lung cancer is a malignant tumor that originates from the bronchial mucosa or glands of the lungs. Most cases can be cured in the early stages, but the specific treatment effect must be judged based on individual circumstances and cannot be generalized.

1. Curable: The cure rate of early lung cancer is relatively high, generally 70%-90%. When lung cancer is still in stage I or carcinoma in situ, the cure rate is even higher, especially for carcinoma in situ. Since the lesions are confined to the epithelial layer and have not broken through the basement membrane, the postoperative cure rate may be close to 100%.

2. Incurable: Lung cancer is a complex disease, and its occurrence and development involve abnormalities in multiple genes and signaling pathways. Even in the early stages, there may be tiny metastases or undetected cancer cells. Moreover, different patients have different responses to treatment. Some patients may be sensitive to a certain treatment method, while others may not respond well. Even after surgical resection and adjuvant therapy, some patients may still experience recurrence or metastasis, mainly because residual cancer cells re-proliferate after treatment or new cancer cells form in other parts.

Although lung cancer may not be cured in its early stages, active treatment and regular follow-up examinations can still prolong survival and improve quality of life.