A diagnosis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with no mutations is serious and can leave you with many questions about the future. It’s normal to leave your first appointment with questions you didn’t get to ask and details you haven’t yet processed. Find out what to do in the first days, weeks and months, and how to better understand your diagnosis. There’s a path forward and a team of doctors and other experts ready to help you navigate your next steps.
First 24-48 Hours: What to Do Right Now
The first day or two after a lung cancer diagnosis is intense. It’s important to know that you don’t need to make decisions right away. Instead, focus on a few simple steps:
- Give yourself time to process. A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing moment.
- Write down your questions. As thoughts come up, jot them down so you’re ready for your next appointment.
- Avoid too much online searching. “There’s a temptation to go to all corners of the internet; I would caution against that,” says Brian Freeman, MD, medical oncologist, Mission Cancer + Blood, part of University of Iowa Health Care. He adds that online searches can cause anxiety and confusion, especially because not all information is trustworthy.
- Focus on the basics. Try to understand your specific lung cancer diagnosis and what the next steps are for testing and care.
- Pinpoint your care team. You’ll likely be working with several specialists, and your doctors will guide you on who you need to see next.
Understanding Your Diagnosis
“A new diagnosis of cancer is a life-altering event,” says Patrick Nana-Sinkam, MD, a pulmonologist and physician-scientist at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center in Richmond, Virginia. “It’s very easy to be overwhelmed with the amount of information.”
Some of this information is in the form of a pathology report. This medical document describes the tissue samples doctors took from you to diagnose your lung cancer. It shows the type of cancer you have, whether it has spread, and other details that help guide your doctors’ treatment decisions.
Here’s a look at the terms you could see on your pathology report, and what they mean:
Type. This refers to the type of lung cancer you have, such as non-small-cell (a common type) or small-cell lung cancer, as well as the specific subtype, such as squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma.
Stage. Cancer stages describe how much cancer you have in your body and how far it’s spread in your body. You may see “TMN” on your diagnosis report, which stands for tumor size, metastasis, and spread to close lymph nodes.
Biomarker/mutation status. These results on a lung cancer report are clues about how a tumor behaves. They help your doctors to understand what makes your cancer unique and choose treatments that are more likely to work for you.
Adenocarcinoma. This is a common type of non-small-cell lung cancer that starts in cells that line your lungs and make mucus.
Squamous cell. Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of non-small-cell lung cancer. It starts in the flat cells that line the airways in your lungs.
Lymph nodes. Lung, and other types of cancer can spread to your lymph nodes, which are part of your immune system and help filter out things that don’t belong, such as infections and cancer cells.
Metastasis. This is when cancer spreads to a new part of your body from where it started.
What Happens Next: A Likely Timeline
After a diagnosis, there is a clear process your care team will follow. While everyone’s situation is different, most people move through a similar set of steps in the first few weeks.
Weeks 1 to 2: Confirming the diagnosis and stage of the cancer
In the first couple of weeks, the focus is on gathering as much information as possible about your cancer. You may have:
- Imaging tests, such as a PET scan or MRI, to see if the cancer has spread
- A biopsy (if not already done) to confirm the diagnosis
- Early discussions with specialists
Doctors are working to answer key questions: What type of lung cancer is this? Has it spread? What stage is it?
Weeks 3 to 4: Getting detailed results and building a treatment plan
Once the first tests are finished, more detailed results start to come in. These may include:
- Molecular or biomarker testing, which looks for specific features of your tumor
- Final staging information
- Input from specialists
During this time, your care team works together to create a treatment plan tailored to you.
Weeks 4 to 8: Starting treatment
With a plan in place, treatment usually begins within about a month to six weeks after diagnosis. Your treatment could include:
- Surgery
- Medication (such as targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or chemotherapy)
- Radiation
The exact approach depends on your cancer type, stage, and overall health.
Your Medical Team and How They’ll Help
You’ll likely see many different doctors and specialists over the course of your lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. They’ll work together to plan and manage your care. Your lung cancer medical team members could include:
- Medical oncologist: Treats cancer with medications like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy. “Medical oncologists tend to be kind of the quarterback of the team,” Freeman says.
- Radiation oncologist: Uses radiation to treat cancer
- Thoracic surgeon: Performs lung cancer surgery
- Pulmonologist: Helps diagnose lung cancer and manage breathing or lung-related issues
- Pathologist: Examines tissue and test samples to confirm your diagnosis
- Radiologist: Reads scans like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs
- Nurse navigator: Helps guide you through appointments, care, and the health care system
- Dietitian: Helps you stay nourished during treatment
- Rehabilitation specialist: Helps with strength, breathing, and daily activities
- Pharmacist: Explains your medications and side effects
- Palliative care specialist: Helps manage pain, symptoms, and quality of life
Questions to Ask at Your Next Doctor’s Visit
Having questions prepared will help you remember everything you want to talk about with your doctor. Here’s a list of questions to ask your doctor about your lung cancer diagnosis and treatment at your next appointment:
Questions to ask your oncologist
Here are some questions to ask your oncologist (doctor who diagnoses and treats cancer) about your NSCLC diagnosis:
- Which specific type of cancer do I have?
- What stage is my cancer?
- What are my treatment options, and how do we decide which is best?
- What are the pros and cons of each treatment option?
- Am I eligible for a cancer clinical trial?
Questions to ask your cancer surgeon
Here are some questions to ask your surgical oncologist (doctor who uses surgery to treat cancer) about your NSCLC diagnosis:
- What does surgery look like for NSCLC?
- Which type of surgery do I need?
- Is surgery the best option for my cancer stage?
- What is the goal of surgery?
- What side effects are possible after surgery?
Questions to ask your pulmonologist
Here are some questions to ask your pulmonologist (doctor who diagnoses lung- and airway-related conditions) about your NSCLC diagnosis:
- Do I need more tests? If so, which ones?
- How often will I need more tests?
- What are the possible side effects of treatment?
- How will you help me manage any side effects?
- What kind of follow-up care can I expect after treatment?
Essential Planning
Beyond your medical care, there are practical things to think about organizing to make this time easier.
- Understand your insurance and costs. Cancer care often comes with expenses that are not directly related to treatment, such as travel, food, and time off work. Ask your care team or a social worker about coverage and financial help.
- Prepare your home and routine. You may need help with meals, errands, or daily tasks during treatment, so planning ahead may be helpful.
- Build your support system. Let trusted family and friends know what’s happening so they can support you in helpful ways.
Finding Emotional Support
A lung cancer diagnosis can take a toll on your mental health, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Organizations such as CancerCare offer free counseling from oncology social workers and online support groups. This can help you connect with others going through similar journeys.
You can also speak to a trained specialist for guidance and emotional support through services such as the American Lung Association’s Lung HelpLine (1-800-LUNGUSA) or the Lung Cancer Research Foundation’s support line (844-835-4325).
Why There’s Reason for Hope
Treatment for lung cancer has improved dramatically. Doctors now understand that each person’s cancer is different, which means treatment can be more personalized. “Lung cancer is no longer one-size-fits-all,” Nana-Sinkam says. Doctors look for chances to offer targeted therapy or immunotherapy. These newer treatments are designed to match the specific features of your cancer, often with better results and fewer side effects than older treatments.
Because of these advances, people with lung cancer are seeing better results. “People are living longer and more people are being cured,” Freeman says. Even when doctors can’t cure lung cancer, they’re able to treat it as a long-term condition, and you can continue to live an active, meaningful life.
That’s why experts say the outlook today is different from what it used to be. “It’s not a cancer that carries the same pessimism that it once did,” Nana-Sinkam says.
Today, there are more options, progress, and hope than ever before.
