Only 15% of lung cancer is diagnosed in early stages, this is because the symptoms do not appear until the disease is advanced. If no lymph node involvement at the time of surgery, the survival rate five years is 50%. Considering all cases globally, the survival rate is reduced to 14%.

There are various diagnostic tests that visualize the lung tumors at different stages.

The doctor will use a method to detect cancer if there is prior suspicion. The patient’s medical history is the first to be conducted to assess personal and family history. The doctor will ask about the existence of cancer and other diseases in the family, snuff consumption, environmental or occupational exposure to substances that produce lung cancer and respiratory disease or any other suffering the ill.

The physical examination will take into account the symptoms that the patient concerned, and with it, it can obtain data that can help diagnose any disease.

The blood test will show if there are any alterations in cellular levels of other organs such as liver.

Radiologic studies can be done through various techniques, if not well visualized with a test, or if there is any doubt in diagnosis. These tests give information on the stage where the cancer. They are also useful to check if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.