The survivability of lung cancer in South Korea varies significantly depending on the type of lung cancer, stage at diagnosis, and available treatments, but overall, it remains a challenging disease with relatively low long-term survival rates. For non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which is the most common type, the five-year survival rate in South Korea is approximately 37%, reflecting improvements in early detection and treatment but still indicating a serious prognosis for many patients.
Lung cancer in South Korea is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, although about 35% of NSCLC cases are caught early enough to improve treatment outcomes. Early diagnosis is crucial because it allows for more effective interventions, including surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and radiation. Despite this, the overall survival remains limited, with fewer than 20% of patients surviving beyond five years in many cases, especially for those with advanced disease.
One important factor influencing survivability in South Korea is the high prevalence of EGFR-mutated NSCLC, which occurs in about 30 to 40% of patients—much higher than in Western countries. This mutation makes patients eligible for targeted therapies such as osimertinib and newer combination treatments like amivantamab plus lazertinib, which have shown promising results in extending median overall survival to nearly four years or more. These advances represent a significant step forward compared to traditional chemotherapy, offering patients longer life expectancy and better quality of life.
Treatment strategies in South Korea also include concurrent chemoradiation for unresectable stage III NSCLC, which has been studied extensively in Korean hospitals. This approach aims to control the disease locally and improve survival, although it comes with risks of significant side effects. The choice of treatment depends heavily on tumor location, stage, and patient health status.
Tumor location within the lung also affects prognosis. Tumors located centrally, within the inner one-third of the lung, are associated with a higher risk of locoregional recurrence and poorer overall survival compared to peripheral tumors. This means that patients with centrally located lung cancers may require closer postoperative monitoring and potentially more aggressive treatment to improve outcomes.
Environmental factors also play a role in lung cancer incidence and survivability in South Korea. While air pollution-related lung cancer mortality has shown some decline, ongoing exposure to pollutants like PM2.5 remains a concern. South Korea, along with Japan and the United States, has seen consistent declines in mortality related to household air pollution, which may contribute to gradual improvements in lung cancer outcomes over time.
In summary, lung cancer survivability in South Korea is influenced by early detection rates, genetic factors such as EGFR mutations, advances in targeted therapies, tumor location, and environmental exposures. Although survival rates have improved with modern treatments, lung cancer remains a serious health challenge, with ongoing research and clinical trials aiming to extend survival and improve quality of life for patients.
