Those who are diagnosed with lung cancer when the cancer is still small and has not spread have the best outlook, with the surgical removal of the tumour in the early stages offering a good chance of a cure.
However, most diagnoses occur when the cancer is at a later stage and when the cancer has already spread, in these circumstances a cure is less likely. Palliative treatment may slow down the progression of the disease.
The prognosis for those diagnosed with asbestos related lung cancer does not differ too much from those with non-asbestos related lung cancer. As with other asbestos related diseases early diagnosis of lung cancer can lead to a better prognosis.