What is survival rate for lung cancer that's spread to diaphragm & lymph nodes in neck & chest wall, stage IV?

First round of chemotherapy done-report, the cancer is "shrinking" in affected areas. What is the chance of full recovery or survival & for how long?

I would say that this is good news that the first round of chemo is shrinking the effected areas. Any cancer at stage IV is more difficult to treat because so many different areas are affected. It is not a death sentence, even if it has spred to the lymph nodes.

My son had lymph node involvement with multiple abdominal sarcoma. He was diagnosed with a stage IV almost 20 months ago. It took almost three rounds of high dose chemotherapy for him to even respond . . and than it was only 20% shrinkage (for some tumors). By the 5th or 6th round of chemo he had significant shrinkage, tumors had dissappeared in the chest wall and lymph nodes and he was able to undergo debulking surgery which removed 75% of the visible tumors. He continued on high dose chemo, and than underwent an experimental procedure called hypthermic chemoperfusion. During surgery they bathed his abdominal cavity with chemo and scrapped his diaphragm of hundred of tiny seeded tumors. He responded very well. Continued with chemo. We are still fighting this disease, but he now has only two 1 cm nodules on the dome of the liver between the diaphragm left. He's come a long way from that stage IV.

So, much depends on the overall health of the patient, the age of the patient, and how they respond to further treatment. Don't worry about survival rates . . just concentrate on how they are doing today . . in the moment . . at this time.

There is always hope. Source(s): Experience.

As soon as any cancer is spreading, the docs are getting nervous.

I think it would be difficult for anyone to put a timescale on this for you. The best your going to get on here is other peoples' personal experience.

I would personally suggest asking a consultant or doctor dealing with the person in question.

Wishing you all the best :-)
i hate to bring you down but the survival rate is very very slim...once the cancer spreads to the lymphnodes you're pretty much done for....the lymph nodes help get rid of infections but with cancer it harbors the disease and helps spread it...so cancer in the lymph nodes spreads it to other organs....and the fact that it's stage 4 is also not very good...but there is always hope...my guess would be 6 months to a year....even if the cancer is shrinking...
what "panda" said/replied was beautiful. can't get any better than her advice to you.
only the man up stairs knows that one for sure. stage 4 ca with mets is tough,just pray,love,laugh,talk about any and all things important. assist with getting life plans and wishes done ,such as living will,code status,end of life plans
Statistically, the 5 year survival rate for stage IV lung cancer is 0-2%. Treatment regimens for lung cancer have not yielded good cure rates, but they are useful in prolonging life.