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Explanation of Lung Cancer Staging

Staging lung cancer means diagnosing the extent of the cancer in the body. This information helps determine the best treatment for the patient.

  1. Staging Lung Cancer

    • Small cell lung cancer normally has only two stages: limited and extensive. A limited stage is confined to one lung and does not extend into the membrane covering the lung, or into the sac surrounding the heart. Non-small cell lung cancer is staged according to the Tumor, Nodes and Metastasis (TNM) system.

    The TNM Staging System

    • TNM stands for Tumor, Nodes (lymph nodes) and Metastasis (spread to other parts of the body). The stage of the cancer is based on the combination of these three factors.

    Tumor

    • There are five categories of tumor, and several subcategories, in the lung cancer TNM system. In T1, the tumor is no larger than 3 cm (1.2 inches) and has not reached the main airway. When the categories are more advanced, it is not only the size of the tumor that is taken into account, but also what areas and organs of the chest it has invaded.

    (Lymph) Nodes

    • Node categories are ranked N0 to N3. In N0, no lymph nodes were invaded by the cancer. In N3, the cancer has invaded high lymph nodes (such as those above the collar bone) on the opposite side of the chest.

    Metastasis

    • Metastasis is designated M0 (no spread to other parts of the body) or M1 (the cancer has spread from the lung to other parts of the body).

    Putting it Together

    • A small tumor with no metastasis and no lymph node invasion (T1 N0 M0) is stage 1A lung cancer. Stage 4 lung cancer (the worst) is any T, any N and M1. Other stages, from Stage 1B to Stage 3B will all be M0, and different combinations of T and N.

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