The Various Stages Of Lung Cancer

After lung cancer diagnosis, the test process used to determine the exact limit of spread of lung cancer within the body is known as staging. Its result helps determine the exact stage of lung cancer. The various stages of lung cancer applicable in the case of non-small cell lung cancer include the following.

Occult Stage: A sputum test conducted during this stage finds cancer cells, but the presence of a tumor in the lungs cannot be established through bronchoscopy or imaging. It is also known as the hidden stage as the primary tumor in the lungs is too small to be perceived by detection techniques.

Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ): The finding of abnormal cells in the visceral lining of the lung marks this stage. There is a possibility that these abnormal cells may turn cancerous and spread over to the adjacent tissues.

Stage I: This is the first stage in which cancer cells can be detected. Stage one lung cancer is divided into two sub-stages. In the first of these sub-stages, a 1.3 cm or smaller tumor limited to the lung is detected. This sub-stage is known as stage-IA.

This is followed by a sub-stage known as stage-IB. This sub-stage is characterized by the presence of either one or more of the following.

A tumor larger than 3 cm is detected. Cancer spread has reached the main lung bronchus and the distance between the carina (at which the trachea joins the bronchi) and the cancer spread limit is more than or equal to 2 cm. Cancer spread has reached the visceral pleura, the inner membrane that covers the lungs. There is inflammation of the lung or partial lung collapse and the tumor either partially blocks the bronchioles or bronchus.

Stage II: Two sub-stages, namely stage-IIA and stage-IIB make up stage two lung cancer. In stage-IIA, the size of the tumor is limited to 3 cm, whereas the cancer spread can be detected upto the adjacent lymph nodes on the tumor side of the chest. In stage-IIB, the cancer spread can be detected upto the adjacent lymph nodes on the tumor side of the chest as also one or more of the following is present.

A tumor larger than 3 cm is detected. Cancer spread has reached the main lung bronchus and the distance between the carina and the cancer spread limit is more than or equal to 2 cm. Cancer spread has reached the visceral pleura, the inner membrane that covers the lungs. There is inflammation of the lung or complete lung collapse and the tumor either partially blocks the bronchioles or bronchus.

The other stages, besides those described above that together make up the various stages of lung cancer include stage three lung cancer and stage four lung cancer.

Lung Cancer