Regardless of stage, the current prognosis for patients with SCLC is unsatisfactory despite improvements in diagnosis and therapy during the past 25 years. Without treatment, SCLC has the most aggressive clinical course of any type of pulmonary tumor, with a median survival from diagnosis of only 2 to 4 months.

The outlook for extensive small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is generally poor. Without treatment, survival rates are typically 2–4 months. Treatment can extend this to an average of 7–11 months.

The American Cancer Society notes that the 5-year survival rate for SCLC detection in the early stage when the cancer is localized is 27%. If the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body before detection, that 5-year survival rate can drop to 3%. The overall 5-year survival rate for SCLC is 7%.

When we look at the overall prognosis of small cell, unfortunately, this is a historically progressive disease. It is difficult to treat. Responses happen with chemotherapy, but progression is generally universal. For limited-stage small cell lung cancer, where you’re going for cure, you can cure a percentage of patients.

Limited stage small cell lung cancer has a median survival of 12 to 16 months, with treatment. Extensive stage small cell lung cancer has a median survival of 7 to 11 months, with treatment.