Lung Cancer Stages

Making an educated treatment decision begins by learning about the stage, or progression of your lung cancer. When lung cancer is properly staged, it provides you with a clearer picture of where the cancer exists in your body. This is the first important step you can take in determining the best treatment options available to you.

Properly staging lung cancer requires the knowledge of a pathologist, a doctor with special training and expertise in analyzing human cell structure. Using a microscope, the pathologist closely examines your tissue samples, documenting cell structure, tumor size and evidence of lymph node involvement.

There are different staging systems for small cell and non-small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer uses a two-stage system—limited stage and extensive stage. Limited stage usually means that the cancer is only in one lung and in lymph nodes on the same side of the chest. Small cell lung cancer that is considered extensive is cancer that has spread to the other lung, lymph nodes on the other side of the chest or to distant organs. It can also spread to the fluid around the lung.

Non-small cell lung cancer is staged using Roman numerals 0 through IV (0 through 4). Typically, the lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. A higher number means a more serious cancer.

After looking at your test results, the doctor will tell you the stage of your cancer and discuss your lung cancer treatment options.