Stages of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer treatment depends on tumor size and on how
far the cancer has spread. To help doctors decide on the
best treatment plan for their patients, a system of stages
that describes the growth and spread of the cancer has
been developed.
There are two stages for small cell lung cancer. In
the limited stage, the tumor is usually confined to
one lung and lymph nodes on the same side of the chest.
In the extensive stage, the cancer has spread to the
other lung and to lymph nodes on the other side of the
chest, or to distant organs.
The stages of non-small cell lung cancer are:
Occult Stage:
Cancer can be detected in patient's saliva, but tumors
cannot be found in the lungs.
Stage 0:
Cancer is localized in a few layers of cells and has
not grown through the lung's top lining.
Stage I:
The tumor is only in the lung and surrounded by normal
tissue.
Stage II:
Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage III:
Cancer has spread to the chest wall or diaphragm near
the lung, or to the lymph nodes in the mediastinum (the
area that separates the two lungs), or to the lymph
nodes on the other side of the chest or in the neck.
This stage is divided into IIIA, which can usually be
operated on, and stage IIIB, which usually cannot withstand
surgery.
Stage IV:
The cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Recurrent:
Cancer has returned after treatment.
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