| Lung cancer (LC) starts as a small group of malignant | | | | than 3 centimeters; 2B refers to those that are |
| cells that can spread from your lungs to other areas | | | | larger. Because the cancerous cells are still localized, |
| of your body. After the condition has been | | | | surgery is used to remove the diseased tissue. If the |
| conclusively diagnosed, it is defined by a stage. The | | | | tumor is located in an area of the lung that makes it |
| stage of the disease dictates the form of treatment | | | | difficult to treat with surgery, an oncologist will |
| and therapy needed to eliminate the cancerous cells. | | | | recommend radiation therapy. |
| Staging is also helpful for forecasting the chances of | | | | Stage 3A And 3B |
| survival. | | | | In stage 3A, the tumor has spread outside the lung |
| In this article, we'll provide a summary of lung cancer | | | | to the lymph nodes in the tracheal area. Most have |
| staging. You'll learn the extent to which the | | | | also grown in size. At this point, the patient's |
| cancerous cells metastasize as the disease | | | | symptoms might include persistent infections such as |
| progresses. | | | | bronchitis as well as chest pain, breathing difficulties, |
| Stage 0 | | | | and coughing up blood. |
| This stage is also called carcinoma in situ. A tumor | | | | Nearly 10% of patients who are diagnosed with |
| exists, but has not spread past the inner lining of the | | | | non-small cell lung cancer are at stage 3A. |
| lung. The survival rate is extremely high if the disease | | | | Unfortunately, the survival rate drops sharply for |
| can be identified and treated while in this early stage. | | | | these patients. While surgery is performed, it is rarely |
| Sadly, LC is rarely detected this early. Treatment is | | | | sufficient for eliminating the cancerous cells. |
| almost always done through surgery since the | | | | Chemotherapy is usually required. |
| diseased cells are localized. | | | | Stage 3B defines lung cancer that has spread |
| Stage 1 | | | | throughout the chest. It can be treated, but is rarely |
| The disease is still contained within the lung and has | | | | curable. Nearly 20% of patients are diagnosed with |
| not yet metastasized to the patient's lymph nodes. | | | | LC at this stage. Chronic fatigue, swallowing |
| Stage 1 is further categorized into stages 1A and 1B. | | | | difficulties, and weight loss are common. |
| The former refers to tumors that are smaller than 3 | | | | Because the disease is inoperable by stage 3B, |
| centimeters. The latter refers to those that are | | | | treatment comes in the form of chemotherapy and |
| larger. | | | | radiation therapy. Patients can also elect to volunteer |
| It is estimated that approximately 30% of non-small | | | | for clinical trials. |
| cell LC cases are diagnosed while in this stage or | | | | Stage 4 |
| stage 2. Surgery is still the preferred treatment | | | | This stage is the most advanced with the tumor |
| option and is often performed through a minimally | | | | having spread to other parts of the body. Lung |
| invasive technique involving video-assisted | | | | cancer at this point is incurable, even with aggressive |
| thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). There are occasions | | | | chemotherapy. For this reason, many patients opt to |
| when stage 1 lung cancer is inoperable. In such cases, | | | | undergo clinical trials to improve their chances of |
| radiation therapy is used to manage the symptoms | | | | survival and prolong their life. The survival rate among |
| and slow the cancer's growth. | | | | patients with this stage of the disease drops to 10%. |
| Stage 2 | | | | The staging above clarifies why it is so important to |
| By this point, the disease has usually spread into the | | | | diagnose and begin treating lung cancer as early as |
| patient's lymph nodes within the main bronchus. This | | | | possible. By the time the disease has reached stage |
| stage is categorized into stages 2A and 2B. As | | | | 3B, surgery, including minimally invasive VATS |
| before, the size of the tumor dictates the | | | | lobectomies, are no longer an option. |
| categorization. 2A refers to tumors that are smaller | | | | |