Survival for Lung NETs

Survival for lung neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) depends on different factors. So no one call tell you exactly how long you will live.

These are general statistics based on large groups of people. Remember, they can’t tell you what will happen in your individual case.

Your doctor can give you more information about your own outlook (prognosis).

You can also talk about this with the Cancer Research UK nurses on freephone 0808 800 4040, from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

About these statistics

The terms 1 year, 5 year and 10 year survival don't mean that you will only live for 1, 5 or 10 years.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) and researchers collect information. They watch what happens to people with cancer in the years after their diagnosis. 5 or 10 years is a common time point to measure survival. But some people live much longer than this.

5 or 10 year survival is the number of people who have not died from their cancer within 5 or 10 years after diagnosis.

Survival for typical carcinoid (TC)

There are no UK-wide statistics available for typical carcinoid. The statistics below are from an American study. Please be aware that due to differences in health care systems, data collection and the population, these figures may not be a true picture of survival in the UK.

Stage 1 typical carcinoid

Around 95 out of 100 people (around 95%) survive their cancer for 10 years or more

Stage 2 typical carcinoid

85 out of 100 people (85%) survive their cancer for 10 years or more

Stage 3 typical carcinoid

Around 80 out of 100 people (around 80%) survive their cancer for 10 years or more

Stage 4 typical carcinoid

Around 60 out of 100 people (around 60%) survive their cancer for 10 years or more

Survival for atypical carcinoid (AC)

There are no UK-wide statistics available for people with atypical carcinoid. The statistics below are from an American study. Please be aware that due to differences in health care systems, data collection and the population, these figures may not be a true picture of survival in the UK.

Stage 1 atypical carcinoid

Almost 90 out of 100 people (almost 90%) survive their cancer for 10 years or more

Stage 2 atypical carcinoid

Around 75 out of 100 people (around 75%) survive their cancer for 10 years or more

Stage 3 atypical carcinoid

Almost 50 out of 100 people (almost 50%) survive their cancer for 10 years or more

Stage 4 atypical carcinoid

Around 20 out of 100 people (around 20%) survive their cancer for 10 years or more

Survival for large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC)

There are no UK-wide statistics available for people with LCNEC. The statistics below are from an American study. Please be aware that due to differences in health care systems, data collection and the population, these figures may not be a true picture of survival in the UK.

  • Around 20 out of 100 people (around 20%) with LCNEC survive their cancer for 5 years or more

Survival for small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

The survival of SCLC sadly hasn’t improved much in the last 25 years. Most people with SCLC are diagnosed when their cancer has spread beyond a single area that can be treated with radiotherapy (extensive stage).

There are no UK-wide statistics available for people with small cell lung cancer. The statistics below are from a Danish study. Please be aware that due to differences in health care systems, data collection and the population, these figures may not be a true picture of survival in the UK.

Limited stage SCLC
15 out of every 100 people (15%) with limited stage SCLC survive for 5 years or more.  

Extensive stage SCLC
Only 2 of every 100 people (only 2%) with extensive stage SCLC survive 5 years or more.

What affects survival

Survival depends on many factors. It depends on the type of lung NET, its stage and the grade of the tumour when it was diagnosed. The stage describes the size of the tumour and whether it has spread. The grade means how abnormal the cells looks under a microscope. 

Another factor is how well you are overall.

You can call the Cancer Research UK nurses on freephone 0808 800 4040, from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, if you would like to discuss anything further after reading this page.
  • Evaluation of the prognostic significance of TNM staging guidelines in lung carcinoids
    J Yoon and others
    Journal of thoracic oncology February 2019, Volume 14, Issue 2, pages 184 – 192

  • Lung large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. An analysis of patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End- Results (SEER) database
    C Deng and others
    Medical Science Monitor May 2019 Volume25, pages 3636–3646.

  • Treatment patterns and survival for small  cell lung cancer patients. A nationwide Danish registry study.
    A green and others
    Annals of Oncology September 2020, Volume 31, Supplement 4, S1040 (abstract only)

  • The information on this page is based on literature searches and specialist checking. We used many references and there are too many to list here. Please contact patientinformation@cancer.org.uk with details of the particular issue you are interested in if you need additional references for this information.

Last reviewed: 
23 Jun 2022
Next review due: 
23 Jun 2025

Related links