Stages of Lung Cancer

There are 4 stages of lung cancer. Each depends on how far the cancer has progressed. For non-small cell lung cancer there are 3 stages. For small cell lung cancer there are 2 stages. 

Non-small cell lung cancer
  • Stage 1 means that the cancer is localized to the lung and there is no cancer in the surrounding lymph nodes.
  • Stage 2 means that it has spread to the lymph nodes closest to the affected lung or that it has not spread to the lymph nodes but instead to the chest cavity, chest wall, outer covering of the lung, or the outer covering of the heart.
  • Stage 3 means that the cancer has either spread to the nodes on the other or same side of the chest, that there is more than one tumor in the affected lung, that there is fluid around your lung that contains cancer cells, or that the tumor has grown into another major structure in your chest.
  • Stage 4 usually means that the cancer has spread to another part of the body such as the liver, brain, or bones.

Small cell lung cancer
  • Limited stage means that the cancer can only be seen in the lung, surrounding lymph nodes or in fluid around the lung.
  • Extensive stage means that the cancer has spread outside of the lungs to another area of the body. Typically, the chest, liver or brain. Because small cell lung cancer is comprised of tiny cells and not a solid tumor, it is usually inoperable, except in rare cases in the early limited stage.

Regardless of the stage of small cell lung cancer, the prognosis is unsatisfactory even though tremendous strides on treatment and diagnosis over the past 15 years have been made. Because of this, all patients diagnosed with this kind of cancer are eligible to participate in ongoing clinical trials.   Ask your doctor.