Yellowstone,
FYI, there are at least 3 sub-types of NSCLC, each with their own behaviors.

Large cell carcinoma (10% - 15% of lung cancers); most aggressive and hardest to treat of NSCLC.
Adenocarcinoma (40% - 45% of lung cancers); aggressive, metastisizes more easily than SCC type.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)(25% - 30% of lung cancers); usually slow growing, easiest to treat.

Small-Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)(10% - 15% of lung cancers); hard to detect so most patients are late stage at diagnosis, most aggressive of all lung cancers, hardest to treat.

Stay positive!
Tony

Hello Thompson,
Welcome to MyLCTeam!

I've done a lot of reading on cancer since my Dx and have never come across that information. Some types are more "aggressive" and some are quicker to metastasize (migrate t other organs), but at what rate, I don't know.

I had numerous small (<6mm) lung nodules show up on my 1st screening CT back in 2019. They were scattered throughout both lungs. At the same time (Nov '19) I developed a sore/scratchy throat concentrated in one area. When it continued to get worse instead of better, I was afraid it was throat cancer. But, I waited and then COVID hit, restricting access to the VA to emergencies only, so I waited until my neck started swelling on one side and went to the ER in April 2020. I was diagnosed with SCC type Throat cancer with the nearby lymph node involved (stage 4). I didn't begin Radio-chemotherapy until Sep '20 and by 1 Jan '21, I was disease free. The lesion in my throat got bigger, as did the lymph node, until the radiation started. But in that time, 8 months, it didn't spread. The lung nodules continued to grow until we finally could get a biopsy in Sep last year. It was the same type cancer, but it took 2 years to grow 2-3 mm and I didn't develop any new nodules, nor did any lymph nodes come back malignant. SCC (squamous cell carcinoma) is usually a non-small cell lung cancer and is usually slower growing and less aggressive than the other types of lung cancer.

Notice I said "usually". It all depends on the individual. Their age, health status, prior history of cancer, physical conditioning and, I BELIEVE, attitude.

Stay positive!
Tony

I think it all depends on what type of lung cancer it is. I had a 10 cm NSCLC tumor in my right lung only back in 2000. There was no other cancer found anywhere else in my body including my brain, so they removed it. Turns out some lung cancers like mine are slow growers and reluctant to spread outside the lung. That tumor had been growing I think for some time, but it didn't want to spread outside that one lung.

Then the next person might have a 2 cm tumor in one lung but it has spread to other parts of the body like the liver or brain. Just depends on the type of LC and there are many.

Thank you Tony. I had Bronchial Alveolar Carcinoma mucinous (BAC) in 2000 at age 46. It was a 10-12 cm tumor confined to my right lung which they removed followed by 7 weeks of chemo and radiation concurrently. Now they reclassified my BAC as Adenocarcinoma mucinous.

Two years ago at age 68 I had new nodule in my left lung which was also the same BAC mucinous. SBRT has completely eliminated that. But now at age 70 I have a new 1 cm spot we are watching in my right lung again.

My point is same as yours - that everyone is different in how fast their cancer grows or spreads. Even if it is the same subtype of LC, it really depends on the person and probably all those other tests including the kras which I am an unlucky G13D.

Thank you Tony !!!🙂