Cancer Research UK scientists have discovered that lung cancers can lie dormant for over 20 years before turning into an aggressive form of the disease, according to a study published in Science. The research, jointly funded by Cancer Research UK and the Rosetrees Trust, highlights the need for better ways to detect the disease earlier.
Two-thirds of patients are diagnosed with advanced forms of the disease when treatments are less likely to be successful. By revealing that lung cancers can lie dormant for many years the researchers hope this study will help improve early detection of the disease.
