Survival time for lung cancer patients depends on the type of lung cancer at the time of first diagnosis and how far it has spread. About one-third of patients in the early stages of non-small cell lung cancer can be cured with surgery alone. This rate is much lower than the cure rate for patients with small cell lung cancer – five percentage points lower. In most patients who are not likely to be cured, survival time ranges from a few months to several years, depending on how far the lung cancer has spread, the patient’s general condition, how well he or she responds to treatment, and how effective the treatment regimen is. After treatment is completed, any chemosynthesis may occur and the patient will still need to remain under the watchful eye of a health care provider, as the cancer may return. Follow-up appointments should occur regularly, every one to three months for the first year or two. The frequency of follow-up visits depends largely on the patient’s condition and his or her disease. At each follow-up, the patient must undergo a full body examination, a chest X-ray every few months, a CT chest X-ray and a bone scan once a year. The treatment of recurrent disease depends on the period of recurrence and the extent of the disease. Many patients are treated with the chemotherapy mentioned earlier. Radiation therapy may play a role in managing the painful and symptomatic areas to which the cancer has spread. If the patient feels pain, there are a number of pain medications available to reduce the pain. (1) Sputum cytology: Sputum cytology (sputum examination) has been widely used in the diagnosis of lung cancer. Sputum examination does not require expensive equipment, is simple and easy to perform, is painless for patients, and has a wide range of application. Sputum examination can also be used for the screening of high-risk groups of lung cancer. (2) X-ray examination: X-ray of the chest is the most important examination in the diagnosis of lung cancer. (3) CTPET examination: CT examination is largely superior to conventional X-ray examination, and PET examination is the safest and most effective means to determine the benignity and malignancy of lung cancer, which is non-invasive and has an accuracy rate of over 95%. (4) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): The contrast and resolution of MRI are better than CT, and it is easier to identify and clarify the relationship between substantial masses and blood vessels. (5) Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS): This is an older technique, but now it is also used as a means to identify benign or malignant disorders. (6) Bronchoscopy: Bronchoscopy is an effective means to diagnose lung cancer. It can observe the site and extent of the tumor and obtain tissues for pathological examination, and it can also speculate the possibility of surgical resection based on the condition of the vocal cords, trachea and rongeurs. (7) Mediastinoscopy: Mediastinoscopy is an effective means to diagnose mediastinal lymph node metastasis of lung cancer.