How many stage of lung cancer are there

A stage I lung cancer is a small tumor that has not spread to any lymph nodes, making it possible for a surgeon to completely remove it. Stage I is divided into 2 substages based on the size of the tumor:. Sometimes, stage II tumors can be removed with surgery, and other times, more treatments are needed.

The stage is based on the size of the tumor and which lymph nodes the cancer has spread to. Stage III cancers have not spread to other distant parts of the body. Stage IIIC cancers cannot be removed with surgery. For example, the lung cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes located in the center of the chest, which is outside the lung.

Or the tumor may have grown into nearby structures in the lung. In either situation, it is less likely that the surgeon can completely remove the cancer.

Stage III cancers that cannot be treated with surgery can often be successfully treated with systemic therapy and radiation therapy see Types of Treatment. Stage IV means the lung cancer has spread to more than 1 area in the other lung, the fluid surrounding the lung or the heart, or distant parts of the body through the bloodstream.

Once cancer cells get into the blood, the cancer can spread anywhere in the body. Lung cancer can also be impossible to remove if it has spread to the lymph nodes above the collarbone.

It can also be impossible to remove if it has grown into vital structures within the chest. If and where the lung cancer has spread. Lung cancer staging helps determine what treatment options you have.

Staging gives some information about lung cancer prognosis but does not predict how long you will live.

The Role of Staging After determining your type of lung cancer , staging is the next step in the lung cancer diagnosis process. T — Tumor size and location N — Regional lymph node involvement. Lymph nodes are small ball-shaped immune system organs distributed throughout the body.

It is important to know whether the lung cancer has spread to the lymph nodes around the lung. M — Metastasis status. Metastasis status refers to which organs the cancer has spread.

Small Cell Lung Cancer Stages Small cell lung cancer is described using two stages: limited and extensive. Prognosis A prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disease.

Lymph nodes Small kidney bean-shaped immune system organs distributed all over the body. Metastasis The spread of cancer from its primary site to other places in the body.

My Lung Cancer Treatment Planning Tool Learn more about your specific type of lung cancer and treatment options using our tool. According to the American Lung Association , there were 2. Anyone can get lung cancer, but smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke is linked to about 90 percent of lung cancer cases. In the United States, each year about 7, people who never smoked die from lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke.

Former smokers are still at risk of developing lung cancer, but quitting can significantly lower that risk. About 2, of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. Black people are at higher risk of developing and dying from lung cancer than other racial and ethnic groups.

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Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States. Here's an overview of both common and rare types. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What causes lung cancer? Are there different types of lung cancer? Risk factors for lung cancer. Lung cancer and smoking. Diagnosing lung cancer. Stages of lung cancer. Treatment for lung cancer. Home remedies for lung cancer symptoms. Diet recommendations for people with lung cancer.

Lung cancer and life expectancy. Facts and statistics about lung cancer. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Heidi Moawad, M. Medically reviewed by Yamini Ranchod, Ph. Medically reviewed by Adithya Cattamanchi, M. In limited-stage SCLC cases, radiation is typically needed in one area of the body.

Extensive stage means the cancer has spread throughout the lung and may have metastasized to the other lung, to lymph nodes in the opposite area of the chest, to fluid surrounding the lung or other locations such as the bones. Make a difference in the fight against cancer by donating to cancer research. Call us anytime. This page was updated on November 9, Lung cancer stages. N—nodes: Has the cancer metastasized to nearby lymph nodes?

M—metastasis: Has the cancer metastasized to distant organs, such as the brain, bones, the other lung or other areas?

The subtypes of stage 0 NSCLC are: Adenocarcinoma in situ —when abnormal cells are detected in glandular tissue lining the lungs Squamous cell carcinoma in situ—when abnormal cells are detected in the tissues that line the respiratory tract. These cells may turn cancerous and affect other nearby tissues. In other cases, the lung cancer tumor measures 4 cm or smaller and meets at least one of the following criteria: The cancer has reached the main bronchus a large airway connecting the trachea to the lung , but not the carina a ridge at the bottom of the trachea that divides the openings of the left and right main bronchi.

The cancer has reached the innermost tissue that wraps around the lung. Either a portion of or the entire lung has collapsed or has pneumonitis a condition in which the lung becomes inflamed.