Recognizing the stages of lung cancer stages

After a diagnosis of lung cancer, your doctor will usually tell you what stage of the cancer you have. The higher the stage of the cancer, the worse your cancer will be. Read a complete explanation of the stages of lung cancer in the following article.

Lung cancer staging

The stage of lung cancer can tell you about the location, size and spread of the tumor. In addition, the stages of lung cancer are also an important part that must be known in determining the lung cancer treatment options that are most appropriate to the patient's health condition.

There are differences between the stage classifications small cell lung Cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

Small cell lung

This type of lung cancer is usually classified into two stages. This cancer tends to spread early and is classified into two stages, namely the early stage and the advanced stage.

• Early stage: Lung cancer is confined to one side of the chest.
• Advanced stage: Lung cancer has spread to areas outside the chest, such as the liver, adrenal glands, bones and brain.

Non-small cell lung cancer

Meanwhile, for the staging stages for this type of lung cancer, most doctors use the TNM staging classification. That is, cancer is classified based on three factors, namely:

• T shows the size of the tumor and how far the tumor has spread.
• N indicates tumor involvement to the lymph nodes.
• M indicates metastasis, or spread of the tumor to other organs.

For example, if the tumor is not found, the status becomes T0. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, then the status becomes N1. The following is a complete explanation for the stages of lung cancer typesnon-small cell according to the American Cancer Society:

Early stage lung cancer (hidden cancer)

At this stage, the tumor still cannot be assessed, or cancer cells have begun to appear in the lung fluid sample. However, cancer cells were not found when other tests were performed, so the location of the tumor was still undetermined (TX).

Meanwhile, cancer is also thought to have not spread to the lymph nodes (N0) or to other organs (M0). Usually, at this stage, the patient still has no symptoms of lung cancer.

Stage 0

At this stage of lung cancer, tumors are found only in the outermost layer of cells that protect the airway. However, the tumor does not affect other tissues of the lung (Tis).

At this stage, the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes (N0) or to other parts of the body (M0).

Stage 1A1

In stage 1A lung cancer, the tumor measures approximately 3 centimeters (cm) and has entered the lung tissue, although it is still 0.5 cm (T1mi). However, just like in the previous stages of lung cancer, the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes (N0) or other organs (M0).

However, at this stage, there are other possible conditions. For example, the tumor is approximately 1 cm in size and has not yet reached the membrane surrounding the lung. Usually, at this stage, the cancer also doesn't affect the bronchi (T1a). The cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes (N0) or other parts of the body (M0).

Stage 1A2

At this stage, the size of the tumor is bigger than 1 cm, but not more than 2 cm. In stage 1A2 lung cancer, the tumor has not reached the membrane that surrounds the lungs, nor does it affect the bronchi (T1B). The cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes (N0) and other parts of the body (M0).

Stage 1A3

In lung cancer stage 1A3, the size of the tumor is more than 2 cm, but not more than 3 cm. The tumor usually has not reached the membrane covering the lung, nor does it affect the bronchi (T1C). At this stage, the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes (N0) and other parts of the body (M0).

Stage 1B

At this stage, the tumor has one or more of the following conditions (T2a):

• Tumor size larger than 3 cm but not more than 4 cm.
• The tumor has reached the bronchi.
• The tumor has reached the membrane that surrounds the lung, even though it is no more than 4 cm.
• The size of the tumor has blocked part of the airway in the lungs.

Even so, this cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes (N0) and other parts of the body (M0).

Stage 2A

In stage 2A lung cancer, the tumor is more than 4 cm in size and less than 5 cm. Usually, the tumor has spread to the bronchi and membranes surrounding the lungs. The tumor usually has blocked part of the airways in the lungs.

As with the previous stages of lung cancer, the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes (N0) and other parts of the body (M0).

Stage 2B

At the stage of cancer stage 2B the tumor is more than 3 cm but less than 5 cm. These tumors have reached the bronchi and membranes that surround the lungs. However, this tumor has partially blocked the airway in the lung, even though it is no more than 5 cm.

At this stage, the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes (N1) even though it hasn't reached other organs (M0).

Stage 3A

In stage 3A lung cancer, the tumor measures more than 3 cm, less than 5 cm and has reached the bronchi and membranes that surround the lungs. Cancer has also spread to the lymph nodes around the lung membrane, or in the spaces in the lungs (N2). The cancer has not spread to other organs (M0).

Stage 3B

In stage 3B lung cancer, the size of the tumor is more than 7 cm and has reached other parts of the body such as the lungs, heart, trachea, and many more. This cancer has also spread to the lymph nodes or spaces in the lungs (N2). Even so, the cancer has not spread to other organs of the body.

Stage 3C

At this stage, the tumor is more than 5 cm in size but no more than 7 cm. This cancer has spread to the lymph nodes around the shoulder blades (N3). Even so, the cancer still hasn't spread to other parts of the body (M0).

Stage 4

Usually, at this stage, the size of the tumor can be erratic. In fact, it could be that the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes. However, cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, bones in other parts of the body, to the brain (M1C).

Therefore, stop smoking if you don't want to experience this condition. In addition, do early checks to find out your health condition. If you are declared healthy, take precautions against lung cancer and avoid various causes of lung cancer.

If you are diagnosed with this condition, adopt a healthy lifestyle for lung cancer patients as a way to treat lung cancer naturally while undergoing treatment from a doctor.