The bad news is that in 2008, lung cancer still remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States: almost 162 000 deaths are expected and more than 200 000 new cases are anticipated this year alone. The good news is that as screening modalities such as low-dose spiral CT and molecular markers in sputum become available, the possibility of diagnosing lung cancer in earlier stages is increasing. Earlier diagnosis means improved survival for patients with lung cancer. Surgery at an earlier stage of disease has been proven to be the optimal treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and can yield a 40% to 70% 5-year survival.
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