Lung cancer kills more people than any other type of cancer. A 2005 study by the Centers for Disease Control reported that more men and women died from lung cancer than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined. Thus, due to its prevalence in our society and the amount of people that it affects, it is important to not only understand what causes lung cancer but the stages of lung cancer as well.
Stages of lung cancer describe the amount that the cancer has spread throughout the body in the form of a malignant tumor. While the cancer may begin in the lungs as lung cancer, it can spread to surrounding tissues, such as the lymph nodes, brain, bones, liver and adrenal glands. Although the cancer may spread to other bodily organs and tissues, the cancer cells that are spreading are still considered to be lung cancer cells and are treated as such.
Staging for lung cancer falls under two categories: small cell lung cancer staging and non-small cell lung cancer staging. To determine the type of lung cancer a patient may have, physicians may use tests such as CT scans, bone scans, MRIs and PET scans. Each of these tests show whether or not the lung cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Once the type of lung cancer is discerned, the physician then uses the test results to ascertain what stage of lung cancer is present in the patient. Small cell lung cancer accounts for 13 percent of lung cancer and is a fast-spreading type of cancer. Non-small cell lung cancers account for the rest of lung cancer and are usually slower to spread throughout the body.
The stages of small cell lung cancer are considered to be limited or extensive. Limited stage small cell lung cancer means that the cancer cells are contained to the lungs and nearby chest tissues. Extensive stage small cell lung cancer is cancer that is present in tissues outside of the lungs and chest area, such as the liver or brain.
Non-small cell lung cancer is dependent on the lung tumor's size and if it is contained to the lung and chest tissues or has spread to other organs. Non-small cell lung cancer has nine stages. They are the occult stage, stage 0, stage IA, stage IB, stage IIA, stage IIB, stage IIIA, stage IIIB and stage IV. In the occult stage of lung cancer, cancerous cells are found in the mucous that lines the lungs, but a tumor is not present in the body. Stage 0 lung cancer cells are contained within the lung's inner lining but have not spread outside of the lung lining. Stage IA lung cancer has broken through the lining of the lung and spread to lung tissue but is not present in the lymph nodes. This tumor is less than 3 cm across. In stage IB lung cancer, the tumor has continued to grow beyond 3 cm but is not found in nearby lymph nodes. In stage IIA, cancer cells spread into nearby lymph nodes, although the tumor is no more than 3 cm across. In stage IIB lung cancer, lymph nodes may or may not remain cancer free, but the tumor has spread to nearby chest tissues, such as the diaphragm and tissues that surround the heart. If cancer is found in nearby lymph nodes, it is larger than 3 cm across. In stage IIIA, the tumor is not limited in size. Cancer is present in the lymph nodes between the lungs nearest the tumor. In stage IIIB lung cancer, cancerous cells are found on the opposite side of the chest cavity from the tumor and may spread to the neck. Cancer may also be present in the heart, esophagus and trachea. In the final stage, stage IV, lung caner is usually found in both lungs and throughout major body organs, such as the liver, brain and bones.
Tags: lung cancer, cell lung, lung cancer, cell lung cancer, lymph nodes