More Americans diagnosed with cancer are now surviving the disease - marking a positive trend that experts say reflects the effectiveness of early prevention and detection strategies, and advancements in treatment and care. Meanwhile, the percentage of patients who survive a diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer is up to 10 percent from 2 percent. While smoking continues to be the main driver of lung cancer cases, more people who have never smoked are also being diagnosed, and scientists are working to understand why. Some experts have called for changes to lung cancer screening guidelines that would increase the number of people who can be screened. “In our current medical system, we don’t really have a great model for who’s best to follow cancer survivors,” Dahut said.

Source: Washington Post January 13, 2026 19:10 UTC