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Cancer in the lungs is treated based on lung cancer stages. To make the treatment management more effective, doctors must first assess the patient through a series of tests in order to determine the present stage of the cancer. Only by then can the doctor decide on the most ideal method of treatment, and start executing the necessary procedures on the patient as early as possible to better manage the condition.
Once lung cancer is diagnosed, it is imperative for the patients to be well informed on the various stages of lung cancer in order to be fully prepared for the impending things and events that may occur in the near future. This is also important for the psychological readiness of the patient for whatever treatment will be recommended by the doctor, on top of being financially prepared as well.
Bear in mind that there are two main types of lung cancer; the non-small cell lung cancer or NSCLC, and the SCLC or the small cell lung cancer. These two types of lung cancer have different lung cancer stages. The NSCLC, which is the most common type, has 4 stages of development; while the small cell lung cancer has 2 stages of lung cancer development. It is very important, therefore, that the doctor must first assess if the lung cancer is NSCLC or SCLC.
Small cell lung cancer rarely occurs. In fact, this only comprises approximately 20% of the total lung cancer cases. There are only two stages of SCLC. The first stage is the limited stage, where the cancer is only confined to the area where it originated in the chest; while the other stage is the extensive stage, where the cancer has already spread to the other parts of the body.
In the non-small cell lung cancer, on the other hand, there are 4 lung cancer stages. In stage I, the cancer is still confined to the lung, especially in only one lobe. In this case, most doctors usually recommend surgery, and sometimes chemotherapy, to treat the problem. In stage II and stage III, the cancer has already metastasized to the entire lungs, but still confined to the chest area. Available treatments for these stages are chemotherapy and radiation therapy. But sometimes, surgery is still recommended depending on the test results.
The most dreaded stage is stage 4, where the cancer has not only affected the entire lungs but has metastasized to various body parts beyond the chest area. Chemotherapy is still used to treat the patient in this stage.
A new treatment method, which is the targeted drug therapy, is now being used. In this treatment, the patient is prescribed with a powerful drug that targets with better precision the abnormalities in cancer cells.
Another option is to enrol the patient in clinical trials that might help improve the patient or prolong the patient’s life. There is no guarantee of cure, but this can help researchers and scientists in finding an effective cure for lung cancer.
In any case, a good understanding of the lung cancer stages and their corresponding treatments can help prepare the patient with what lies ahead.
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Medical Disclaimer
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