All forms of cancer are categorized into different stages based on the extent to which they have spread in a patient’s body. The different stages of cancer are based on the size evaluation of the cancerous growth and also its penetration level in the organ or the surrounding healthy tissues. The stages of cancer are also based on the absence or the presence of the metastasis into the lymph nodes or into the other organs of the body. The Lung Cancer Symptoms also depend on the stages of the cancer and their type.

Staging a cancerous growth is very important in determining what type of treatment can be administered to the patient to treat the cancer. Determining the lung cancer stage is extremely useful in saving a patient’s life as most lung cancer symptoms are also symptoms of regular diseases and illnesses which are usually overlooked by patients and doctors.

Doctors perform a number of clinical tests to accurately determine the stage of the lung cancer and possible lung cancer symptoms that the patient may be suffering due to the disease. Some of the most common lung cancer tests include laboratory tests (blood chemistry checkups), CT Scans, X-rays, MRI scans, bone scans, etc. An abnormal blood chemistry test may directly signal metastases in the liver or the bones. Radiological tests are greatly helpful in determining the size of the lung cancer and to know the penetration level of the tumor.

The NSCLC type of Lung cancer is categorized between stages 1 to 4, based on their severity.

• Stage 1: this is the initial stage of the NSCLC. The cancer is restricted to the lung tissues only.

• Stage 2: in the second stage of lung cancer, the cancer starts growing slowly increasing its size and also penetrating deeper into the tissues of the lungs.

• Stage 3: The cancerous growth continues to grow in this stage growing larger and much deeper into the lung tissues.

• Stage 4: in this stage, the cancer has already spread from the chest to the various other parts of the body, thus making the treatment of the cancer very difficult.

The SCLC type of cancer is categorized into simple two types and the Lung Cancer Symptoms vary based on their classification.

• Limited stage SCLC: this type of cancer is confined specifically to its area, in the lungs.

• Extensive stage SCLC: this type of SCLC cancer spreads beyond the lungs, from the chest to the other parts of our body.