News, Lung Cancer May Lie in Wait for 20 Years, Then Strike (biopsies, time)

[JD59]

CANCER RESEARCH UK scientists have discovered that lung cancers can lie dormant for over 20 years before suddenly turning into an aggressive form of the disease, according to a study published in Science* today (Thursday).

The team studied lung cancers from seven patients – including smokers, ex-smokers and never smokers. They found that after the first genetic mistakes that cause the cancer, it can exist undetected for many years until new, additional, faults trigger rapid growth of the disease.

Researchers reveal lung cancer can stay hidden for over 20 years

[I_Like_Spam]

Its a known fact that large numbers of people walking around have dormant cancers in their bodies. Virtually all adults have thyroid cancers and the vast majority of older men have prostate cancers- and most of those cancers will never give the individual any trouble. Medical science has been slicing and dicing and doing biopsies on cadavers who died of accidents for decades. The findings about lung cancer aren't surprising at all.

The challenge of medical science is identifying which of these dormant cancers are most likely to "wake up" and give the patient problems and which ones will never act up and the person will ultimately die of something else.

[jkiss]

My mom's oncologist said she probably had her lung cancer for 30 years. Once it went active though she was gone 4 months later. I think my sister's death the year before put so much stress on my mom that the cancer went wild. Just my opinion though.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by jkiss

My mom's oncologist said she probably had her lung cancer for 30 years. Once it went active though she was gone 4 months later. I think my sister's death the year before put so much stress on my mom that the cancer went wild. Just my opinion though.

We had a good friend that had the same situation. I don't know it had been in her lungs for years, she had chest X rays that never showed anything, but regardless, by the time she was diagnosed she lived about 4 months as well.

It isn't really news, we all have been told most if not everyone have cancer cells, some are lucky and they never become active. WHo knows what the true story is. The next generation will be told something totally different.