What Are The Stages Of Lung Cancer?

What Are The Stages Of Lung Cancer?
By Gray Rollins

Once a diagnosis of lung has been made, the doctor will
attempt to determine the stage the lung is at. The
staging system is somewhat like a measurement system, with the
numbers indicating: whether the cancerous tumors are localized
or whether the tumors have spread to other parts of the body;
the tumor’s size; and whether or not the tumors have spread to
the lymph nodes. There are four main stages of lung cancer
(Stages 1 – 4) and identification of one of the stages is what
helps doctors prescribe an appropriate treatment method.

Different Cancer, Different Stages of Lung

The staging system is a bit more complicated than simply
assigning a number. First of all, the stage numbering system
differs slightly depending on whether the lung has been
diagnosed as small cell lung or non-small cell lung
cancer. 

Non-Small Cell Lung

Non-small cell lung is the more common form and it
progresses more slowly than the other type. Non-small lung
cancer can be broken down into 4 stages. Stage 1 means that the
tumor is local; it has not spread to the lymph nodes. Adding the
letter A or B to the stage 1 classification indicates the size
of the tumor (“A” means it is less than 3 cm across) and whether
it’s larger and growing in a sensitive area (“B”). Stage 2 means
the tumor has spread into lymph nodes or the chest wall. Again,
an “A” and “B” designation determines the size and the location
of the tumor. Stage 3 is more complicated and can mean several
things. For example, it can indicate that the tumor has spread,
but it’s still only affecting one side of the lung, or that
tumors have spread to other nearby body parts such as the chest
wall, or that fluid is collecting in the lungs. Stage 4 is of
course the worst stage and means that cancerous tumors have
spread into a whole other part of the body like the pelvis or
liver. 

Small-Cell

In cases of small-cell cancer, there are two stages of lung
cancer – Stage 1 and Stage 2. These stages are used to

designate
whether the cancerous cells are limited in number or whether
there exists an extensive amount that have invaded the chest and
other parts of the body. When they’re limited in number,
patients have a good chance of receiving effective treatment and
possibly even resuming a near normal life. An extensive amount
however, means treatment options are very limited. 

The Staging Challenge

Although the stages of lung seem well-defined,
categorizing a person’s into one of these stages is often
challenging. Each case of involves so many different
factors and the combination of factors can be interpreted in
many different ways by different doctors. Proper diagnosis and
classification takes time and may take several rounds of
testing. CT scans, MRIs, blood tests, bone scans and even
testing the pleural effusion (if present) may all be needed.

About the Author: Gray Rollins is a featured writer for
http://www.lifelungcancer.com. To learn more about lung cancer,
visit http://www.lifelungcancer.com/stagesoflungcancer/

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=34617&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet