what we should expect, stage 3b lung cancer

Hello and welcome to E health forum.

With respect to your father in-law, this condition and status may vary depending on the exact clinical findings and Radiological findings. Hence for exact details and clarity, you may consult with his treating doctors for proper advice and counselling.

Here are a few general facts and findings about stage 3 B lung cancer.

Stage 3B Lung Cancer is considered advanced lung cancer along with stage 4.

Here the tumor of any size might have spread to distant lymph nodes, or invaded other structures in the chest (such as the heart or esophagus).

Though it is not usually curable, it is treatable palliatively to reduce the discomfort and pain. The survival can be increased to a certain extent with chemoradiotherapy.

Roughly 30% of people have stage 3 lung cancer at the time of diagnosis, leaving 30% of individuals diagnosed at an earlier stage (stage 1 or stage 2 disease) and 40% having already progressed to stage 4 (metastatic) lung cancer at the time of diagnosis.

The 5-year survival rate with stage 3B lung cancer is very low (about 10%).