Diagnosis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Most patients with early stage lung cancer are asymptomatic meaning that they do not exhibit clinical signs or symptoms of the disease. The absence of clinical signs and symptoms during the early stage of the disease is a major factor that can contribute to a significant delay in diagnosis of the condition. It has been estimated that approximately 70% of patients who are diagnosed with lung cancer already have either regional or distant metastases at the time of diagnosis. As the disease progresses, clinical signs and symptoms become more evident.