News|Articles|April 3, 2026

Lung Cancer Surgery Safe for Patients 80 and Older, Mount Sinai Study Finds

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Key Takeaways

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The cohort included 884 early-stage NSCLC patients, with 114 aged ≥80, supporting broader consideration of surgery as life-prolonging and potentially curative in fit elderly patients.

New research shows adults over 80 with early-stage lung cancer can achieve surgical outcomes and quality of life comparable to younger patients.

Adults age 80 years old and older with early-stage lung cancer can safely undergo surgery, according to researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center who recently published a study in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas. The findings suggest that patients in this age group can achieve outcomes comparable to younger patients, challenging long-held assumptions that age alone should disqualify someone from curative surgical treatment.

The research indicates that when older adults are carefully selected for surgery based on their overall health rather than just their birth year, they can tolerate the procedures well and experience positive long-term results. The study aims to encourage doctors and patients to consider surgical options that were previously often dismissed for the oldest patient populations.

Main data that support the findings

The research found that patients aged 80 and older lived just as long as younger patients following their operations. This data is significant because many adults over 80 are being diagnosed with lung cancer as the general population lives longer, yet they are frequently not considered for surgery due to their age.

"Our findings show that when patients are carefully selected based on their overall health, not just their age, they can tolerate surgery well and experience excellent long-term outcomes," said Dr. Raja M. Flores, Chair of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System and a lead author of the study, in a news release issued by Mount Sinai.

A key focus of the data was the impact of surgery on the daily lives of patients. While the study found that some older patients experienced more complications in the immediate period following surgery, the majority of patients in both the older and younger groups reported feeling better over time. Within one year of the procedure, patients in the 80 and older group saw an improvement in their quality of life.

Dr. Emanuela Taioli, Director of the Institute for Translational Epidemiology at the Icahn School of Medicine, noted that older adults are often left out of clinical decisions. She emphasized that the data shows these patients should have equal access to care that can improve both survival and quality of life.

Trial details

The study followed a total of 884 patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Among this group, 114 participants were age 80 or older. Researchers compared the surgical outcomes and quality of life metrics of these older individuals against the outcomes of the younger patients in the cohort.

The study's safety findings suggest that the physical "number" of a patient's age is less important than their functional health. While the surgical team acknowledged that older patients might face more immediate postoperative challenges, the long-term safety profile and recovery rates remained strong.

"We should treat the whole person, not just the number of years they have lived," Flores in the news release said regarding the safety of the procedure. "If a patient is strong enough, surgery can save their life."

For caregivers and patients, the safety data provides reassurance that even if a patient is over 80, they may still be able to safely undergo surgery and be cured of early-stage lung cancer. The researchers conclude that instead of ruling out surgery based solely on age, doctors should focus on the overall health of the patient to determine if they are a good candidate for the procedure.

Editor's note: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, as your own experience will be unique. Use this article to guide discussions with your oncologist. Content was generated with AI, reviewed by a human editor, but not independently verified by a medical professional.