| Once a diagnosis of lung cancer has been | | | | mean several things. For example, it can |
| made, the doctor will attempt to determine | | | | indicate that the tumor has spread, but it's |
| the stage the lung cancer is at. The staging | | | | still only affecting one side of the lung, or |
| system is somewhat like a measurement system, | | | | that tumors have spread to other nearby body |
| with the numbers indicating: whether the | | | | parts such as the chest wall, or that fluid |
| cancerous tumors are localized or whether the | | | | is collecting in the lungs. Stage 4 is of |
| tumors have spread to other parts of the | | | | course the worst stage and means that |
| body; the tumor's size; and whether or not | | | | cancerous tumors have spread into a whole |
| the tumors have spread to the lymph nodes. | | | | other part of the body like the pelvis or |
| There are four main stages of lung cancer | | | | liver. |
| (Stages 1 - 4) and identification of one of | | | | |
| the stages is what helps doctors prescribe an | | | | Small-Cell Cancer |
| appropriate treatment method. | | | | |
| | | | In cases of small-cell cancer, there are two |
| Different Cancer, Different Stages of Lung | | | | stages of lung cancer - Stage 1 and Stage 2. |
| Cancer | | | | These stages are used to designate whether |
| | | | the cancerous cells are limited in number or |
| The staging system is a bit more complicated | | | | whether there exists an extensive amount that |
| than simply assigning a number. First of all, | | | | have invaded the chest and other parts of the |
| the stage numbering system differs slightly | | | | body. When they're limited in number, |
| depending on whether the lung cancer has been | | | | patients have a good chance of receiving |
| diagnosed as small cell lung cancer or | | | | effective treatment and possibly even |
| non-small cell lung cancer. | | | | resuming a near normal life. An extensive |
| | | | amount however, means treatment options are |
| Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer | | | | very limited. |
| | | | |
| Non-small cell lung cancer is the more common | | | | The Staging Challenge |
| form and it progresses more slowly than the | | | | |
| other type. Non-small lung cancer can be | | | | Although the stages of lung cancer seem |
| broken down into 4 stages. Stage 1 means that | | | | well-defined, categorizing a person's cancer |
| the tumor is local; it has not spread to the | | | | into one of these stages is often |
| lymph nodes. Adding the letter A or B to the | | | | challenging. Each case of cancer involves so |
| stage 1 classification indicates the size of | | | | many different factors and the combination of |
| the tumor ("A" means it is less than 3 cm | | | | factors can be interpreted in many different |
| across) and whether it's larger and growing | | | | ways by different doctors. Proper diagnosis |
| in a sensitive area ("B"). Stage 2 means the | | | | and classification takes time and may take |
| tumor has spread into lymph nodes or the | | | | several rounds of testing. CT scans, MRIs, |
| chest wall. Again, an "A" and "B" designation | | | | blood tests, bone scans and even testing the |
| determines the size and the location of the | | | | pleural effusion (if present) may all be |
| tumor. Stage 3 is more complicated and can | | | | needed. |