Does treatment always work with stage 3B lung cancer for an 80-year-old man? How successful are 30 radiation treatments and 7 chemotherapy treatments?
Treatment doesn't always work for everyone, but it can be successful even at age 80. The combination of radiation and chemotherapy (called chemoradiation) is actually the Show Full Answer
Does treatment always work with stage 3B lung cancer for an 80-year-old man? How successful are 30 radiation treatments and 7 chemotherapy treatments?
Treatment doesn't always work for everyone, but it can be successful even at age 80. The combination of radiation and chemotherapy (called chemoradiation) is actually the standard first-line treatment for stage 3B lung cancer.
For stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer that has spread regionally, the five-year survival rate is 37 percent. However, this statistic doesn't account for individual factors like overall health, specific cancer subtype, or genetic mutations.
Important considerations for an 80-year-old:
- Older adults whose overall health is good should be offered standard treatment options, including radiation and chemotherapy
- Studies show that older adults with advanced-stage lung cancer who received both radiation and chemotherapy had better outcomes than those who received radiation alone
- Treatment can be successful even at very advanced ages when overall health is good
About side effects:
Older adults are more likely to experience more severe side effects from chemotherapy due to age-related weakness and other health conditions. Common side effects from the treatment combination may include fatigue, skin rash, nausea, and loss of appetite.
If the treatment controls the cancer, immunotherapy drugs might be recommended afterward to help keep things stable.
December 25, 2025
Join
Your Privacy Choices
