Lung/Chest Wall Cancer

How long can lung/chest wall cancer be present without symptoms or  very unspecific symptoms before being diagnosed, even though chest x-ray showed evidence of questionable areas that MD's be have attributed to other conditions. Slow growing masses I assume were ID as something else?
Are slow growing masses less canceric than faster growing? Is there a better outcome for slow growers. Are larger masses not good prognosis.
Can they be evident for years with a good outcome?