Can lung cancer be cured after surgical removal?

In general, whether lung cancer can be cured after surgical resection depends on the cancer stage. The probability of cure is high for early-stage lung cancer following surgery, while it is difficult to achieve a cure for moderate to advanced stages. A detailed analysis is as follows:

For early-stage lung cancer—such as carcinoma in situ or minimally invasive adenocarcinoma—the tumor is localized with no lymph node or distant metastasis. After complete surgical removal of the lesion, most patients do not require additional chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The 5-year survival rate exceeds 90%, and long-term follow-up shows an extremely low recurrence rate, meeting the criteria for clinical cure.

However, even if visible tumors are surgically removed in moderate to advanced stages, microscopic metastases may still remain. Postoperative adjuvant treatments such as chemotherapy or targeted therapy are usually necessary. Despite these interventions, the risk of recurrence remains high, making a cure difficult to achieve. In such cases, treatment goals typically focus on prolonging survival and improving quality of life.

After surgery, patients must strictly adhere to medical advice for regular follow-up examinations—including chest CT scans and tumor marker tests—to detect any possible signs of recurrence promptly. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle also helps consolidate treatment outcomes and improve long-term survival prospects.