| Lung cancer staging refers to a system of classifying | | | | best prognosis. Lung cancer caught in this stage has |
| where the cancer is in its growth. This allows | | | | better than a 49% five year survival rate. |
| physicians a guide to help determine what treatments | | | | Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stage II: The cancer is |
| would be most effective and how aggressively those | | | | confined to lung tissue and the lymph nodes within |
| treatments should be administered. It is also a way | | | | the lungs, the recovery rate is 40-50% |
| of determining the potential outcome of a particular | | | | Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stage II: The tumors |
| case of lung cancer. The lower the stage, the better | | | | have spread from the lungs, but are confined to the |
| the odds of a full recovery. | | | | chest area. Larger, more invasive tumors are |
| The process of deciding what stage a lung cancer | | | | generally diagnosed as belonging to this stage. |
| has reached is called "staging the lung cancer." This is | | | | Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stage IV: The cancer has |
| accomplished through a series of tests, such as | | | | spread away from the chest and invaded other parts |
| x-rays, blood tests, bone scans, etc. The goal is to | | | | of the body such as the liver, adrenal glands, bone, |
| determine the size of the tumor or tumors and if the | | | | brain, and/or other sites. |
| cancer has spread to other tissues (metastasized). | | | | Small Cell Lung Cancer Limited Stage: The cancer is |
| X-rays, MRIs and CAT scans help to determine the | | | | confined to the chest area, and has not spread |
| size and location of the tumors. Bone scans and blood | | | | outside the point of origin. |
| work can help to determine whether the cancer has | | | | Small Cell Lung Cancer Extended Stage: The cancer |
| spread to other organs or to the bones. PET scans | | | | has spread beyond the chest to other parts of the |
| can indicate whether or not a tumor is actively | | | | body. |
| growing. | | | | The treatment recommended by your doctor will |
| Lung cancer staging is also dependent on the type of | | | | take into account the stage of the lung cancer, as |
| cancer. For instance, in non-small cell lung cancer | | | | well as the size and location of the tumors and your |
| (NSCLC), there are four stages, while in small cell lung | | | | general overall health. Of course, you'll have input into |
| cancer (SCLC) there are two ... limited stage and | | | | how aggressively the cancer should be pursued and |
| extended stage. Here's a quick overview to give you | | | | all that entails. More and more oncologists are coming |
| an idea of the differences between the various | | | | to accept that the prognosis of a patient with lung |
| stages: | | | | cancer -- as it is with any cancer patient -- is |
| Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stage I: The cancer is | | | | profoundly affected by the patient's attitude and |
| confined to the lungs. This stage obviously offers the | | | | decision making. |