KatieB Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 The Diagnosis and Staging of Lung Cancer Tze-Ming Chen, MD, FCCP Staging is an assessment of the extent of spread of the tumor, including spread to lymph nodes and metastasis to other parts of the body. Determination of the stage involves obtaining information about tumor sites from tests that may include combined positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT), endobronchial ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration, endoscopic ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration, electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy, mediastinoscopy, thoracentesis, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, and CT or ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration. The current system for staging non-small cell lung cancer is the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) classification, which includes assessment of the tumor (size and effect of the tumor on the surrounding lung tissue or interaction with non-lung tissue) (T) (Table 1), the extent of spread of lung cancer to lymph nodes (N) (Table 2 and Figure 1), and the presence or absence of metastatic spread of lung cancer outside of lung tissue (M) (Table 3). The tumor stage of non-small cell lung cancer ranges from localized disease (IA) to widespread disease (IV) and provides information about expected prognosis and survival (Table 4). See pages 7-9 for tables and figures. MORE: http://lungcancercap.org/choices/pdf/1_ ... 052312.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksflwrpetals Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Thanks. When I first heard 'stage 4', 'inoperable', 'incurable', and the stats...I was beyond freaked especially when I read over and again the stats and lifespan percetages. Now that I have settled down and have perspective... Yes, I have cancer Yes, I will die from it someday. But not today. (borrowed from a post elsewhere on here) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dianew Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 And don't forget - the stats are old and don't reflect the newer survival rates due to many of the new therapies, like Tarceva and Xalkori - and there are new treatments coming all the time. There is so much reason for hope today - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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