Can cancer spread after lung cancer surgery?
Surgery itself doesn't typically cause lung cancer to spread. While there's a theoretical concern about tumor seeding (cancer cells moving during a biopsy or procedure), medical studies show this risk is very low for lung cancer.
However, it's possible for cancer to return or Show Full Answer
Can cancer spread after lung cancer surgery?
Surgery itself doesn't typically cause lung cancer to spread. While there's a theoretical concern about tumor seeding (cancer cells moving during a biopsy or procedure), medical studies show this risk is very low for lung cancer.
However, it's possible for cancer to return or spread after surgery, even when the procedure successfully removes the visible tumor. This happens because microscopic cancer cells may have already traveled to other areas before surgery.
The likelihood of cancer returning depends on several factors:
- The stage of cancer at diagnosis
- Whether cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes
- The completeness of tumor removal
- Your overall health and other treatments received
If cancer is caught early and hasn't spread to lymph nodes or other areas, surgery can offer the best chance of remission and improved life expectancy. One member shared that after their pneumonectomy in 1987, everything was fine for 34 years before cancer returned.
Your medical team will monitor you closely after surgery to catch any recurrence early and adjust your treatment plan if needed.
January 31
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