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