The stage of cancer represents how far the cancer has spread in a patient’s body. Staging helps doctors plan treatment and determine the patient’s outlook for recovery (prognosis). Staging of non-small cell lung cancer is based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). It uses stages 0 to 4 and a more detailed “TNM” system:

• “T” describes the extent of tumor growth.
• “N” describes the extent of lymph node involvement.
• “M” describes the extent of distant metastasis.

About 14 percent of patients with lung cancer live five years or longer after initial diagnosis. Small cell lung cancer survival rate is 5 to 10 percent after five years.

Prognosis depends on:

• Stage of the cancer
• Tumor size
• Type of cancer cell
• Presence of symptoms
• Patient’s overall health

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is staged by tumor size, level of spread to the lymph nodes and spread to other organs.The stages of NSCLC are:

• Stage 0 (carcinoma in situ). Cancer is located in the air passages only. No lung tissue is affected. Cancer treated at this stage can often be cured.
  
  
• Stage I. Cancer has spread to the lung tissue only. Lymph nodes are not affected.
  
  
• Stage II. Cancer is located in the lung and nearby lymph nodes and the chest wall.
  
  
• Stage IIIA. Cancer is located in the lung and distant lymph nodes.
  
  
• Stage IIIB. Cancer is located in the lung and spread locally to the heart, blood vessels, trachea and esophagus within the chest wall.
  
  
• Stage IV. Cancer may be located in both lungs and has spread to distant organs such as the liver, brain or bones.
  
  
• Recurrent. Cancer that recurs after treatment and may return to the lung or other parts of the body.

Stages 0 through IIIA are resectable, meaning they can be surgically removed. Stages IIIB and IV are generally treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy and other treatments because metastasis is extensive.

Because small cell lung cancer (SCLC) spreads aggressively, staging is simple and generalized:

• Limited. The cancer is located in one lung and the nearby lymph nodes.
  
  
• Extensive. Cancer cells may have spread to the other lungs, distant lymph nodes and/or other organs.