Lung Cancer Staging
You may hear references to the 'staging of lung cancer' as you read and research. The treatment of lung cancer, both the specific type of treatment chosen and the aggressiveness with which it is treated, is dependent on the stage at which it is discovered.
Determining the stage of a lung cancer is based on both the size of the tumor (or tumors), and whether or not the cancer has metastasized (or spread) to other tissues. Determining the stage of lung cancer is important, because different treatments are recommended for different stages of lung cancer. The stage of the tumor also determines the prognosis for outcome in an individual case of lung cancer. The lower the stage of the tumor, the more hopeful the outlook for recovery.
The process of deciding what stage the lung cancer has reached is called 'staging the lung cancer', which somehow makes it sound as if the doctor is orchestrating a Broadway play of cinema debut. In a way, it may seem that way as life becomes a series of tests and appointments for x-rays, blood tests, bone scans and other procedures. Each of these tests can help a doctor determine how far the cancer has spread and how treatable it is. X-rays, MRIs and CAT scans can help determine the size and location of any tumors. Bone scans and blood work may indicate whether the cancer has spread to other organs or to the bones. PET scans can indicate whether a tumor is actively growing or not.
Staging of the tumors is also dependent on which type of lung cancer is involved. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), there are four stages - I - IV. In small cell lung cancer (SCLC) there are two, limited stage and extended stage.
Stage I NSCLC: The cancer is confined to the lungs. Stage I lung cancer offers the best prognosis. NSCLC caught in Stage I has better than a 49% five year survival rate.
Stage II and III NSCLC: The tumors have spread from the lungs but are confined to the chest area. Larger and more invasive tumors are diagnosed as Stage III tumors.
Stage IV NSCLC: The cancer has spread away from the chest and invaded other parts of the body.
Limited Stage SCLC: The cancer is confined to the chest area, and has not spread outside the point of origin.
Extended Stage SCLC: The cancer has spread beyond the chest to other parts of the body.
The treatment recommended by the doctor will take into account the stage of the lung cancer, as well as the size and location of the tumors and the general overall health of the patient. The patient also has some input into how aggressively the cancer is pursued and with what means. More and more oncologists are coming to accept that the prognosis of a patient with lung cancer - like that of any cancer patient - is profoundly affected by their own attitude and decisions.
Lung Cancer - Overview
Lung Cancer is a type of cancer that forms in tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining air passages. Many lung cancers begin in the bronchi though others can start in other parts of the lungs. Lung cancer also has a tendency to form in the glands below the bronchi.
Lung Cancer - Probabilities
Lung cancer causes up to 30% of all cancer related deaths, and it is the 2nd leading cause of death among both men and women in western society. 85% of all lung cancers are caused by a person's smoking habit or just by breathing in the second-hand smoke of others.
Lung Cancer - Screening
At this moment in time, there is no particularly useful single test that can be considered 100% reliable for the early detection of lung cancer. Unfortunately unless someone is undergoing a health screen for something completely unrelated, lung cancer is very often only discovered in the later stages of the disease when it is often too late to do anything but offer palliative treatment.
Lung Cancer - Symptoms
The most common indicators and symptoms of lung cancer include the following: Fatigue Shortness of breath and wheezing (dyspnoea) A cough that doesn't go away and gets worse over time Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis Constant chest pain Coughing up blood (bloody sputum) (haemoptysis) Swelling of the neck and face Fever Loss of appetite and Weight loss (anorexia) Hoarse voice
Lung Cancer Treatment Options - Radiation
In many cases of lung cancer, surgery is not an option. This may be because of the advanced stage of the cancer, the location of the tumor or tumors, or because of the overall general health of the patient. In those cases, the oncologist may suggest radiation therapy to treat lung cancer. Even if surgery is an option, the doctor may suggest irradiation either before therapy to shrink the tumor or after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
Lung Cancer - Trends by Ethnicity, Sex and Race
In the USA and many other western countries, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. Lung cancer has been found to be the leading cancer killer among Caucasians, African-Americans, Asians and Hispanic males.