Page last updated: October 2024
The information on this webpage was adapted from Understanding Lung Cancer - A guide for people with cancer, their families and friends (2024 edition). This webpage was last updated in October 2024.
Expert content reviewers:
This information was developed based on Australian and international clinical practice guidelines, and with the help of a range of health professionals and people affected by lung cancer:
- Dr Malinda Itchins, Thoracic Medical Oncologist, Royal North Shore Hospital and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW
- Dr Cynleen Kai, Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare, VIC
- Dr Naveed Alam, Thoracic Surgeon, St Vincent’s Hospital, Epworth Richmond, and Monash Medical Centre, VIC
- Helen Benny, Consumer
- Dr Rachael Dodd, Senior Research Fellow, The Daffodil Centre, NSW
- Kim Greco, Specialist Lung Cancer Nurse Consultant, Flinders Medical Centre, SA
- Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA
- Marco Salvador, Consumer
- Janene Shelton, Lung Foundation Australia – Specialist Lung Cancer Nurse, Darling Downs Health, QLD
- Prof Emily Stone, Respiratory Physician, Department of Thoracic Medicine and Lung Transplantation, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, NSW
- A/Prof Marianne Weber, Stream Lead, Lung Cancer Policy and Evaluation, The Daffodil Centre, NSW.
Life after a diagnosis of lung cancer can present many challenges. It is important to allow yourself time to adjust to the physical and emotional changes.
Establish a daily routine that suits you and the symptoms you’re coping with and talk to your health care team about any concerns. Your family and friends may also need time to adjust.
For some people, the cancer goes away with treatment. Other people will have ongoing treatment to manage symptoms. You are likely to feel a range of emotions about having lung cancer.
Talk to your treatment team if you are finding it hard to manage your emotions. Cancer Council 13 11 20 can also provide you with some strategies for coping with the emotional and practical aspects of living with lung cancer
Dealing with feelings of sadness
If you have continued feelings of sadness, have trouble getting up in the morning or have lost motivation to do things that previously gave you pleasure, you may be experiencing depression.
This is quite common among people who have had cancer. Talk to your GP, because counselling or medication – even for a short time – may help. Some people can get a Medicare rebate for sessions with a psychologist.
For information about coping with depression and anxiety, call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or for 24-hour crisis support, call Lifeline 13 11 14.
Contact cancer support
Follow-up appointments
Whether treatment ends or is ongoing, you will have regular appointments to manage any long-term side effects and check that the cancer hasn’t come back or spread.
During these check-ups, you will usually have a physical examination and you may have chest x-rays, CT scans and blood tests. You will also be able to discuss how you’re feeling and mention any concerns you may have.
Check-ups after treatment usually happen every 3–6 months for the first couple of years and every 6–12 months for the following three years. When a follow-up appointment or test is approaching, many people feel anxious (“scananxiety”).
Talk to your treatment team if you are finding it hard to manage this anxiety. You may also find cancer support groups helpful. Between follow-up appointments, let your doctor know immediately of any symptoms or health problems.
What if the cancer returns?
For some people, lung cancer does come back after treatment, which is known as a recurrence. Lung cancer is more likely to recur in the first five years after diagnosis.
If the cancer returns, your doctor will discuss treatment options with you, which will depend on:
- the type of lung cancer
- where the cancer has recurred, and
- the stage and grade.
Whichever treatment you are given or choose to have, support from palliative care specialists and nurses can help you live with fewer symptoms.
Question checklist
Asking your doctor questions will help you make an informed choice. You may want to include some of the questions below in your own list.
Diagnosis
- What type of lung cancer do I have?
- Has the cancer spread? If so, where has it spread? How fast is it growing?
- Are the latest tests and treatments for this cancer available in this hospital?
- Will a multidisciplinary team be involved in my care?
- Are there clinical guidelines for this type of cancer?
Treatment
- What treatment do you recommend? What is the aim of the treatment?
- Are there other treatment choices for me? If not, why not?
- If I don’t have the treatment, what should I expect?
- How long do I have to make a decision?
- I’m thinking of getting a second opinion. Can you recommend anyone?
- How long will treatment take? Will I have to stay in hospital?
- Are there any out-of-pocket expenses not covered by Medicare or my private health cover? Can the cost be reduced if I can’t afford it?
- How will we know if the treatment is working?
- Are there any clinical trials or research studies I could join?
- Can I stop the treatment after I have started?
Side effects
- What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment?
- I often feel breathless. Who can help me with that?
- Will I have a lot of pain? What will be done about this?
- Can I work, drive and do my normal activities while having treatment?
- Will the treatment affect my sex life and fertility?
- Are there any complementary therapies that might help me?
After treatment
- How often will I need check-ups after treatment?
- If the cancer returns, how will I know? What treatments could I have?