Lung cancer Stages
Lung cancer Stage 1
The cancer is no larger than 3 centimeters (slightly less than 1¼ inches), has not
spread to the membranes that surround the lungs( visceral pleura), and does not
affect the main branches of the bronchi.
Lung cancer Stage 2
The cancer has one or more of the following features:
- It is larger than 3 cm
- It involves a main bronchus, but is not closer than 2 cm (about ¾ inch) to the point
where the trachea (windpipe) branches into the left and right main bronchi
- It has spread to the membranes that surround the lungs
- The cancer may partially clog the airways, but this has not caused the entire lung to
collapse or develop pneumonia
Lung cancer Stage 3
The cancer has one or more of the following features:
- Spread to the chest wall, the breathing muscle that separates the chest from the
abdomen( diaphragm), the membranes surrounding the space between the two lungs(
mediastinal pleura), or membranes of the sac surrounding the heart(parietal
pericardium).
- Invades a main bronchus and is closer than 2 cm (about ¾ inch) to the point where the
windpipe (trachea) branches into the left and right main bronchi, but does not
affect this area
- Has grown into the airways enough to cause an entire lung to collapse or to cause
pneumonia in the entire lung
Lung cancer Stage 4
The cancer has one or more of the following features:
- Spread to the space behind the chest bone and in front of the heart( mediastinum)
the heart, the windpipe (trachea), the esophagus (tube connecting the throat
to the stomach), the backbone, or the point where the windpipe branches into the left and
right main bronchi
- Two or more separate tumor nodules are present
in the same lobe
- There is a fluid containing cancer cells in the space surrounding the lung
Staging of Small Cell Lung Cancer
Although small cell lung cancers can be staged like NSCLC, most doctors prefer a
2-stage system. These are "limited stage" and "extensive
stage." Limited stage usually means that the cancer is only in one lung and in
lymph nodes on the same side of the chest.
Spread of the cancer to the other lung, to lymph nodes on the other side of the chest, or
to distant organs indicates extensive disease. Many doctors consider small cell lung
cancer that has spread to the fluid around the lung an extensive stage.
Small cell lung cancer is staged in this way because it helps separate patients who have a
fair prognosis and may be cured, from those who have a worse outlook with no chance of
cure. About two-thirds of the people with small cell lung cancer have extensive disease
when their cancer is first found.
Lung
cancer picture
Lung Cancer Smoking
Lunger Cancer Xray |