Does lung cancer surgery stimulate the remaining cancer cells to grow faster?

No: That belief is a myth.

No.: The purpose of th surgery is to remove all the cancer. The myth that "the air causes it to grow" is false. The truth is cancer cells grow very well with or without surgery if they are hiding in nodes or far off places. This the proof that additional chemotherapy works in more advanced stage, and perhaps of some help in stage ii (+hilar nodes).

No: Unfortunately, there is a mistaken belief that surgery actually causes lung cancer to grow. This "old wives tale" has scared patients from getting early treatment. Please, if you are lucky enough to have your lung cancer discovered early and are a surgical candidate then have your surgery. Surgery will not cause your lung cancer to grow faster.