What Is Adenocarcinoma Lung Cancer?

Adenocarcinoma is a type of lung cancer that develops in the glands lining your lungs. You could develop adenocarcinoma in the lung after smoking cigarettes, being exposed to asbestos, or coming into contact with other toxic substances. Thankfully, there are medical treatments available for adenocarcinoma in the lung to help you live longer.

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Written and Fact-Checked by: Lung Cancer Group

Last updated: January 7, 2026

Top Topics:

Causes
Stages
Treatments
Help for Patients

Adenocarcinoma in the Lung Explained

Adenocarcinoma is cancer that starts in the glands that surround major organs. Adenocarcinoma can form in many body parts, most notably the lungs. Smoking, asbestos, and other harmful substances can all cause adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Adenocarcinoma of the lung is the most common type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). It accounts for 40% of all NSCLC cases, as noted by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Adenocarcinoma in the lung kills more people than any other cancer does per year, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. However, it may be possible for you to become a long-term survivor with treatment.

Lung Cancer Group can help you and your loved ones understand your treatment options and pursue financial compensation after a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma or any other type of lung cancer.

Learn about your options now with a Free Lung Cancer Guide.

What Causes Lung Adenocarcinoma Tumors?

Smoking is the biggest cause of lung adenocarcinoma, as noted by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Smokers are up to 30 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers.

Besides smoking, other causes of adenocarcinoma in the lung are:

Asbestos: Tiny asbestos fibers can get stuck in the lungs and cause lung adenocarcinoma and other types of lung cancer 10-50 years later.
Secondhand smoke: Exposure to secondhand smoke can lead to adenocarcinomas of the lung, even in those who never smoked.
Toxin exposure: Diesel, radon, nickel, tar, and soot can all lead to adenocarcinomas of the lung, according to the medical research center City of Hope.

If you were exposed to any of these harmful materials and have developed symptoms like chest pain or a cough, make sure to see a doctor promptly and ask if you should get a lung cancer screening.

Who Is at Risk for Adenocarcinomas in the Lung?

A risk factor is something that increases the likelihood of developing a condition. Besides exposure to toxins like tobacco smoke and asbestos, there are several factors that may make it more likely you’ll develop lung adenocarcinoma.

You could be at risk of adenocarcinoma in the lung if you:

Are a woman: More women develop adenocarcinoma in the lung than men, according to City of Hope.
Had radiation therapy: In some cases, radiation therapy can lead to adenocarcinoma.
Have a family history of lung cancer: Some families are at a higher risk of adenocarcinomas of the lung due to genetics and a history of smoking. Your risk of getting lung cancer is doubled if a family member had it, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Were exposed to air pollution: Severe air pollution may increase your chances of developing adenocarcinomas of the lung.

The best way to lower your risk of developing adenocarcinomas of the lung is to quit smoking, since this is the main cause. It’s also a good idea to make sure you aren’t being exposed to toxic substances like asbestos at home or at your job.

Symptoms of Adenocarcinoma in the Lung

Patients may not experience noticeable symptoms of lung adenocarcinoma when the cancer is first forming. Symptoms typically appear after the cancer has started to spread to other parts of the body.

Lung adenocarcinoma symptoms include:

Anemia
Chest pain
Coughing that doesn’t go away or gets worse
Coughing up blood or bloody mucus
Feeling tired (fatigue)
Loss of appetite
Pleural effusion (fluid buildup in lung lining)
Problems breathing or swallowing
Raspy voice
Shortness of breath
Swelling of the face or veins in neck
Weight loss with no known cause
Wheezing

“It was mild. I had a little bit of a wheeze. It wasn’t until a regularly scheduled doctor’s appointment that I brought up, ‘Hey, I’ve been dealing with this cough for a while.’”

— Stephanie Williams, lung adenocarcinoma patient

You may experience other conditions as adenocarcinoma spreads and your immune system responds to it. These include Eaton-Lambert syndrome (causing trouble walking and speaking), Horner’s syndrome (causing droopy eyelids and changes in pupil size), and hypercalcemia (leading to digestive problems, thirst, and fatigue).

Do you have symptoms of lung adenocarcinoma? Find out your eligibility for financial compensation. Call (877) 446-5767 now.

Diagnosing Adenocarcinoma of the Lung

To diagnose adenocarcinoma lung cancer, doctors perform a physical exam and ask about your current symptoms. Tell your doctor if you smoked or were exposed to asbestos to help them rule out less serious conditions.

Your doctors will then likely order imaging scans and other tests to check for signs of lung adenocarcinoma.

Common tests for adenocarcinoma in the lung may include:

Blood tests: A blood test may reveal fragments of DNA from dead lung cancer cells in your body, which can help narrow down if you have lung adenocarcinoma.
Computed tomography (CT) scans: A CT scan is a procedure that takes images of the tissues inside your body.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans: This imaging test uses magnets, a computer, and radio waves to take pictures of your tissues and organs.

If doctors believe you might have lung adenocarcinoma after these tests, they’ll order a biopsy. This is a sample of fluid or tissue taken and reviewed under a microscope to look for lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Once your adenocarcinoma lung cancer is diagnosed, your doctors can recommend treatments to help you live longer and feel better.

Adenocarcinoma Misdiagnosis

Health care providers may misdiagnose adenocarcinoma at first. This is because the cancer shares symptoms with many other more common health problems.

Adenocarcinoma of the lung can be mistaken for:

Asthma
Bronchitis
COPD
Pleurisy (inflamed lung lining)
Pneumonia
Tuberculosis

Misdiagnosing lung cancers like adenocarcinoma can delay proper diagnosis and treatment. If you believe your adenocarcinoma has been misdiagnosed, get a second opinion from another oncology (cancer) expert.

Stages of Adenocarcinoma Lung Cancer

There are five stages of lung adenocarcinoma, according to City of Hope. If you’re in an earlier stage, you will likely have access to more treatments that could help improve your survival time.

Lung adenocarcinoma stages include:

Stage 0: Cancer cells are found in the outer part of a lung
Stage I: A tumor is found in the lung
Stage II: Cancer has spread deep into the lungs or local lymph nodes
Stage III: Cancer has reached the lungs, lymph nodes, or nearby body parts
Stage IV: Widespread metastasis (spread) has occurred, and the cancer is found in one or more organs that are far away from the lung

Patients typically don’t start experiencing symptoms until stages III or IV, by which point the cancer has metastasized. Doctors may recommend scans to rule out adenocarcinoma metastasis if a patient is diagnosed in an earlier stage.

Patients with any stage of lung adenocarcinoma may qualify for financial compensation. Learn more in our Free Lung Cancer Guide.

Lung Adenocarcinoma Prognosis

Adenocarcinoma of lung prognosis varies depending on the size, location, and type of the tumor. Generally, patients with adenocarcinoma in the lung live for around 1 year or less, but some can survive for a long time.

Adenocarcinoma lung cancer prognosis is measured using survival rates and life expectancies. Learn about each below.

Adenocarcinoma Lung Life Expectancy

Life expectancy is how long a patient is projected to live following a lung adenocarcinoma cancer diagnosis. Patients with adenocarcinoma in the lung live for 11-14 months on average, according to The Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences.

Adenocarcinoma Lung Cancer Survival Rate

Survival rates show what percentage of people with lung adenocarcinoma are still alive after they were diagnosed. They are typically measured in years.

Here are key lung adenocarcinoma survival rate figures:

The overall 5-year survival rate for lung adenocarcinoma is 12%.
Those with stage I adenocarcinoma have a 5-year survival rate ranging from 70%-85%.
Patients in stage IV have a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%.

While these survival statistics can seem scary, it’s important to know that medical treatment may help you live longer.

Treatment Options for Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma

There are many ways to treat lung cancers like adenocarcinoma depending on what stage of the cancer you have, your overall health, and other factors. Explore common lung adenocarcinoma treatments below.

Surgery

Surgery is often a very effective treatment for adenocarcinoma in the lung since it can remove tumors from your body. Doctors may recommend surgery if you have early-stage lung adenocarcinoma, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Following surgery to remove lung adenocarcinoma tumors and her right lung, Joan DeFeis returned to an active lifestyle, hiking in national parks and even Antarctica. “I had cancer, but cancer never had me,” she says. “I truly believe a positive frame of mind helped immensely with my recovery.”

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells, which divide and grow quickly. Chemotherapy can help lung adenocarcinoma patients who received surgery to prevent recurrence, where the cancer comes back.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy shrinks and kills cancerous tumors by damaging cancer cells’ DNA. Doctors may use radiation to help prevent a recurrence of adenocarcinoma in the lung. Radiation is typically recommended with other treatments like surgery and chemotherapy.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. However, compared to radiation and chemotherapy, fewer healthy cells are destroyed in the process. Targeted therapy can be used to help patients with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma potentially live longer.

Targeted therapy and other adenocarcinoma lung cancer treatments can be expensive, but you may qualify for financial compensation. Call (877) 446-5767 right now to learn more.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a lung cancer treatment that stimulates your immune system to fight cancer. Lung cancer immunotherapy helped lung adenocarcinoma patients with specific gene mutations live for much longer, according to Frontiers in Immunology.

Alternative Treatments

Alternative cancer treatments may not directly treat or cure adenocarcinoma in the lung. However, they can help you cope with symptoms and side effects of more aggressive therapies.

Alternative treatments for adenocarcinoma include acupuncture, meditation, and yoga. Make sure to speak with your lung cancer care team before starting any alternative treatments for lung adenocarcinoma. They shouldn’t be substituted for accepted treatments like surgery.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials allow doctors and researchers to test new types of treatment to see how they can help patients with lung cancer live longer. Many cancer research trials are specific to adenocarcinoma in the lung.

Adenocarcinoma clinical trials are studying:

AMG-410: A medication being tested alone and with other therapies for best results.
New immunotherapies: Treatments like PF-08046037 and sasanlimab could improve survival for patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma.
WEF-001: A drug being used by itself to treat lung adenocarcinoma.

Ask your doctor about lung adenocarcinoma clinical trials that you may qualify for. They can guide you through the steps to join one.

Help for Lung Adenocarcinoma Patients

A lung adenocarcinoma diagnosis can bring a lot of uncertainty, but it may be possible for you or someone you love to become a long-term survivor with medical care.

Lung Cancer Group can walk with you after an adenocarcinoma diagnosis and recommend resources that can make your journey easier to bear.

Our team may be able to help you:

Find the best treatments for your lung adenocarcinoma
Pursue compensation to cover any expenses
Receive the support and care you deserve

Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide or call (877) 446-5767 to explore all of the ways we can assist you or someone you love facing adenocarcinoma.

Common Questions About Lung Adenocarcinoma FAQs

What is lung adenocarcinoma?

Adenocarcinoma in the lung is a type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It’s usually caused by smoking, exposure to asbestos, or other toxic materials. While it can be aggressive, you may be able to live a long time with adenocarcinoma of the lungs with medical care.

How serious is adenocarcinoma lung cancer?

Adenocarcinoma lung cancer is very serious. Without treatment, you may not have a long life span, and you’ll likely experience worsening symptoms like a severe cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.

For these reasons, you need to see a doctor if you have a history of smoking or asbestos exposure. Medical professionals can help diagnose lung adenocarcinoma and recommend treatments to improve your survival time.

Connect with us now to get help exploring and affording treatments following a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in the lung.

What is the main cause of lung adenocarcinoma?

The main cause of lung adenocarcinoma is smoking, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Smoking tobacco exposes your lungs to cancer-causing materials.

Other possible causes include being exposed to asbestos, secondhand smoke, radon, and other harmful substances that can trigger cancer.

What is the life expectancy of someone with lung adenocarcinoma?

The average life expectancy of a lung adenocarcinoma patient is 11-14 months. However, some patients have gone on to live much longer, becoming lung adenocarcinoma survivors depending on their treatment plan.

Survivorship could be possible in your case, too. You have a better chance if doctors diagnose and treat your adenocarcinoma promptly.

What’s the difference between mesothelioma vs. adenocarcinoma?

Both lung adenocarcinoma and mesothelioma can be caused by asbestos exposure, but they aren’t the same illness. Adenocarcinoma develops in the glandular cells of the lungs and is very common, with over 100,000 cases diagnosed per year.

On the other hand, mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer affecting the lining of the lungs, abdomen, heart, or testicles. Only 3,000 cases are diagnosed per year.

Can lung adenocarcinoma spread to the rest of my body?

Yes, lung adenocarcinoma can spread to other parts of your body. Cancer cells can break away from a tumor and migrate throughout your body through the lymph or blood system. This is known as metastasis.

This is why it’s important to see a cancer doctor as soon as possible if you might have lung adenocarcinoma. Getting diagnosed before the cancer spreads will mean you have a better chance at long-term survival.

Can adenocarcinoma lung cancer be cured?

There is no universal cure for any cancer. However, you may be considered ‘cured’ of lung adenocarcinoma if you’re diagnosed and treated before it spreads very far. Your cancer may not ever come back with aggressive and early treatment.

Late-stage patients are less likely to be fully cured of lung adenocarcinomas or other types of NSCLC, but treatments can potentially help you live for a long period of time.

Is adenocarcinoma of the lung always fatal?

No, adenocarcinoma is not always fatal. Many other patients have become adenocarcinoma lung cancer survivors thanks to treatment from doctors.

“Having lung cancer has completely changed my life,” says stage 4 lung adenocarcinoma survivor Tabitha Paccione. “Not because of the inconvenience or being sick – that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I am so much more grateful, so much more appreciative of life.”

Get a Free Lung Cancer Guide to learn about treatments that could help you or a loved one live longer with adenocarcinoma.