Hi, Lung cancer is divided into 2 main groups:(1) small cell lung cancer and (2) non small cell lung cancer. Non small cell lung cancer is the most common and can be further divided into adenocarcinoma, squamous cell and large cell. The five year survival rate for lung cancer varies depending on how advanced the disease is at diagnosis: 49% survival if it is localised 16% chance of survival for regional spread 2% survival for distant spread Even cancer is staged, this influences outcome. In lung cancer stage is determined by CT of chest and abdomen, complete blood count, other blood tests checking the liver,kidney, lung function tests. After these tests are done the stage is determined by looking at the size of the tumor (6cm would be a T2b classification) and spread to chest wall,heart, trachea, esophagus, spine, great vessels. They would have then checked whether it had spread to any of the lymph nodes and finally any distant spread. These 3 things would determine the stage. For non small cell lung cancer( the type you friend has), survival also depends on : the stage at presentation, something called the performance score and if she is losing weight. Your friend can find out what stage of cancer she has been grouped into. For the specific stages the 5 yr survival rate is as follows: stage 1a-75% stage 1b-55% stage 11a-50% stage 11b-40% stage 111a- 10 to 35% stage 111b- less than 5% stage iv-less than 5% I hope this information is helpful and I wish you friend the best