Asbestos Lung Cancer Life Expectancy

The average asbestos lung cancer life expectancy is 7-16 months, but some patients have lived for many years with the right medical care. If you were diagnosed with lung cancer after being exposed to asbestos, you may be entitled to compensation that can help pay for your treatments. See if we can help you get everything you deserve.

Get a Free Case Review

Why Take Legal Action?

By filing a lawsuit, you can pursue financial compensation and justice from those who caused you or a loved one harm.

Fact-Checked and Legally Reviewed by: Rae Theodore

Last updated: Sep 19, 2024

What Is the Life Expectancy of Asbestos Lung Cancer?

Life expectancy for asbestos-related lung cancer refers to how long you are expected to live following a diagnosis.

On average, lung cancer has a survival rate of less than two years, making its outlook less favorable than many other cancers. However, treatments may allow some patients to exceed this average and achieve long-term survival.

Your asbestos lung cancer life expectancy is influenced by several factors, including your age, type of lung cancer, and the stage at diagnosis. Doctors consider all these aspects when developing a treatment plan to help you live longer.

Did you know?

Thousands of products were made using asbestos for most of the 20th century. These products exposed millions to this carcinogen and put them at risk of lung cancer and other serious illnesses later in life.

LawFirm.com has partnered with asbestos law firms that can determine how and when you may have been exposed and hold the companies responsible for your cancer accountable.

Get a free case review now to see if a top lawyer can pursue money to help pay for treatments that may be able to extend your lung cancer from asbestos life expectancy.

Asbestos Lung Cancer Life Expectancy vs Survival Rate

People often confuse “life expectancy” with “survival rate,” but they represent different aspects of an asbestos lung cancer prognosis.

Life expectancy refers to the estimated length of time doctors expect you to live after a diagnosis.
Survival rate is the percentage of people with the same stage and type of cancer who are still alive after a specific amount of time, typically measured in years.

The average 5-year survival rate for lung cancer is 18.6%, according to the American Lung Association (ALA).

Treatment can improve both survival rates and asbestos lung cancer life expectancy.

Lung Cancer From Asbestos Life Expectancy by Type

There are two main types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Your asbestos lung cancer life expectancy will partly depend on which type you have.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): 11-13 months life expectancy

NSCLC accounts for 80-85% of lung cancer cases and includes three subtypes. Life expectancy can vary depending on the specific subtype and the stage of the cancer at diagnosis.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC): 7-16 months life expectancy

SCLC is less common but more aggressive. It responds better to treatment if detected before spreading beyond the lungs.

Patients with asbestos-related lung cancer have the same life expectancy as those with lung cancer not caused by asbestos. Asbestos exposure can lead to any type of lung cancer.

Your cancer care team will take the type of lung cancer you have into consideration when developing a treatment plan to potentially extend your asbestos lung cancer life expectancy.

Asbestos Lung Cancer vs Mesothelioma Survival Rates

In addition to lung cancer, those exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing other serious illnesses 10-50 years later.

Other asbestos-related diseases include:

Asbestosis, which is a chronic lung disease caused by breathing in asbestos fibers that progressively weakens the lungs. It can be serious, but many patients live for years following their diagnosis.
Mesothelioma, which is a rare and aggressive cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue that covers most of the body’s internal organs. The most common type of this cancer is malignant pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs and has an average life expectancy of 12-21 months.

Mesothelioma life expectancy is based on the patient’s cancer stage, cell type, type of mesothelioma, and other factors. A mesothelioma specialist can develop a treatment plan to help patients live longer and improve their quality of life.

If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer or another asbestos-related disease, LawFirm.com may be able to help you get justice.

Call (888) 726-9160 right now or chat with our team for free to see if you may qualify for compensation to help pay for the treatments you need.

Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer Life Expectancy by Stage

The stage of lung cancer you have plays a significant role in determining life expectancy. An earlier diagnosis means the cancer hasn’t spread (metastasized), making it easier to treat and potentially extending your asbestos lung cancer life expectancy.

There are 4 stages of non-small cell lung cancer and 2 stages of small cell lung cancer, and each one is associated with a different life expectancy.

NSCLC life expectancy by stage:

Stage 1 and Stage 2: 33-55 months
Stage 3: 12-28 months
Stage 4 (metastatic): 4-9 months

SCLC life expectancy by stage:

Limited-stage SCLC: 12-16 months
Extensive-stage SCLC: 7-11 months

Regardless of the type and stage of your cancer, your oncologist can suggest treatments that may help improve the quality of your life and extend your asbestos lung cancer life expectancy.

5 Factors That Affect Asbestos Lung Cancer Life Expectancy

In addition to the type and stage of lung cancer, several other factors can influence your asbestos cancer life expectancy.

5 factors that may impact your lung cancer from asbestos life expectancy are:

Age: Younger patients generally have a better prognosis. They may be in better overall health and able to undergo more aggressive treatments.
Early detection: Screenings can detect lung cancer in its early stages, sometimes before symptoms even appear. An early diagnosis often provides more treatment options, which can improve asbestos cancer life expectancy.
Overall health: If you’re in good health at the time of diagnosis, you’re more likely to tolerate treatments like surgery, which can extend your life.
Sex: Women with lung cancer typically have slightly better survival rates than men.
Treatments: The treatments you get can impact how long you live. Some patients may choose palliative care for symptom management and pain relief instead of more aggressive cancer treatments.

Our trusted legal partners have secured over $10.1 billion for those with lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. They’ll fight to get you the most compensation possible to help pay for your treatments and more.

How Treatments Affect Asbestos Lung Cancer Life Expectancy

One of the most effective ways to improve your lung cancer from asbestos life expectancy is through lung cancer treatments. These treatments help doctors remove or shrink cancerous tumors, with the goal of giving you more time to spend with loved ones.

Common asbestos lung cancer treatments include:

Chemotherapy: Using drugs to kill cancer cells, chemotherapy can extend life for late-stage NSCLC patients, who lived over 9 months on average when treated with chemotherapy alone, according to The Lancet. When combined with other treatments, chemotherapy may further improve survival rates.
Immunotherapy: This boosts the immune system to fight cancer. Metastatic NSCLC patients lived slightly over 13 months on average when treated with both immunotherapy and chemotherapy, according to Biomedicines.
Radiation therapy: High-energy beams, like X-rays or protons, target and kill cancer cells. Advanced SCLC patients who received radiation and immunotherapy had a median survival of 11 months, according to a review of National Cancer Database data.
Surgery: This involves removing the tumor and part or all of a lung. NSCLC patients who got surgery lived nearly 77 months on average, according to a review of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data.
Targeted therapy: This treatment focuses on blocking specific mutations in cancer cells. Patients treated with targeted therapy could live cancer-free for months or even several years, according to Cancer Cell International.

Doctors often combine multiple treatments to maximize tumor removal and improve lung cancer from asbestos life expectancy. Patients may also be eligible to try new treatment methods and combinations in clinical trials, which can extend survival times.

Get Help Seeking Asbestos Lung Cancer Compensation

To help cover the cost of treatments that may improve your asbestos lung cancer life expectancy, you may be able to file an asbestos lung cancer lawsuit and seek compensation.

LawFirm.com has a network of asbestos lawyers who can help patients in all 50 states pursue the compensation and justice they deserve.

Our legal partners:

Are leaders in asbestos litigation
Fight for asbestos lung cancer settlements, which often provide compensation without going to court
Have recovered over $10.1 billion for families impacted by lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases
Never charge any upfront or hourly fees

Our partner asbestos lawyers understand the challenges related to a lung cancer diagnosis and strive to make the legal process as easy and stress-free as possible.

Call (888) 726-9160 right now or get a free, no-obligation case review to take the first step toward the compensation and justice you deserve.

Asbestos Cancer Lung Life Expectancy FAQs

How long can you live with lung cancer caused by asbestos?

The average asbestos lung cancer life expectancy is 7-16 months, but some patients have lived much longer thanks to medical care. Treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation can help a person work toward becoming a long-term survivor.

Is asbestos cancer terminal?

Asbestos-related lung cancer, like other forms of lung cancer, can be terminal, especially if it’s not detected and treated early. The prognosis depends on several factors, like the type of lung cancer, the stage of the disease, and whether metastasis (cancer spread) has occurred.

However, the earlier the cancer is detected, the better the chances for successful treatment. Advanced stages, where cancer has spread beyond the lungs, often have a poorer asbestos lung cancer life expectancy.

Get a free case review to see if you may be eligible for compensation to help pay for treatment.

Can you survive asbestos lung cancer?

Yes, it’s possible to survive asbestos-related lung cancer. Lung cancer treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy have helped some patients extend their asbestos lung cancer life expectancy for more than a decade after their diagnosis and become long-term survivors.

Is lung cancer caused by asbestos?

Yes, it can be. Asbestos exposure is a well-established risk factor for lung cancer.

This toxic mineral is made up of tiny, durable fibers. When these fibers are inhaled, they can become lodged in the lungs and cause damage over time. This damage can lead to asbestos-caused cancers like lung cancer and other health problems.

LawFirm.com works with asbestos lawyers who can determine how you were exposed and hold the asbestos companies responsible for making you sick accountable.

Call (888) 726-9160 right now to see if we can connect you.