Stage

Description

Occult carcinoma

Cancer cells are found in the sputum coughed up from the lungs, but a tumour cannot be seen in the lung.

0

Abnormal cells are found in the lining of the lung or of the air passages (trachea, bronchi or bronchioles). Abnormal cells have not spread to the tissues of the lung itself, but the cells may become cancerous and then spread. Stage 0 is also called carcinoma in situ.

1

Stage 1A:  The tumour is in the lung only and is less than 3 cm in size.

Stage 1B : The tumour is larger than 3 cm or it is growing into the main airway of the lung (bronchus). It may also have spread to the covering of the lung (pleura) or made the lung partially collapse.

2

Stage 2A:  The tumour is less than 3 cm but has spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Stage 2B:  The tumour is larger than 3 cm and has spread to nearby lymph nodes.

OR  The tumour has grown into the chest wall, the pleura, the muscle layer below the lungs or the covering of the heart.

OR The tumour has made the lung collapse.

3

Stage 3A:  The tumour can be any size. Cancer cells have spread into the lymph nodes in the middle of the chest (mediastinum) but not to the other side of the chest.

OR  The cancer has spread to the tissue around the lung near where the cancer started, such as into the chest wall, the pleura, the middle of the chest or nearby lymph nodes.

Stage 3B : There are 2 or more tumours in the same lung.

OR  Cancer cells have spread to lymph nodes on the other side of the chest or to nodes above either collarbone.

OR  The cancer has spread into another major structure, such as the esophagus, the heart, the trachea or a main blood vessel.

OR  Cancer cells are found in the pleural fluid (called pleural effusion).

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4

Cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, brain or bones.

Stage

Description

Limited stage

Cancer cells are found only in one lung and in nearby lymph nodes. They may also be found in the pleural fluid.

Extensive stage

The cancer has spread outside the lung to the chest area or to other parts of the body.