Stage 3 lung cancer: What you should know

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There are different ways of describing the stages of lung cancer. Doctors use stages to help them decide where the cancer is at any time and how likely it is to respond to specific treatments.

A straightforward way to describe cancer development is:

• Localized: Cancer is only in the original site and has not spread.
• Regional: Cancer has spread to nearby tissues.
• Distant: Cancer has spread to other parts of the body. It may affect the bones, liver, or brain.

At stage 3, cancer is in the process of moving from the regional to the distant stage.

Learn more about metastatic lung cancer.

Numbered stages

A doctor may use numbered stages to describe NSCLC. The stages range from 0 to 4, with 0 being the earliest stage and 4 being the most advanced, or distant, stage.

At stage 3, cancer has started to spread beyond the lung where it originated. However, it has not yet spread to the rest of the body.

Experts subdivide stage 3 into 3A, 3B, and 3C, depending on the size of the tumor and which lymph nodes and other tissues cancer has affected.

SCLC: Limited or extensive SCLC

For SCLC, doctors use a different system:

• Limited: Cancer affects one lung, and the lymph nodes on the same side of the body.
• Extensive: The primary tumor has spread further in the chest or to other organs.

TNM stages

Another way of staging is the TNM system.

TNM focuses on:

• Tumor size (T): How big is the tumor, and has it spread to other tissues, or areas?
• Lymph nodes (N): Has cancer spread to nearby lymph nodes?
• Metastasis (M): Has it reached other organs, such as the other lung, or the liver?

Doctors use TNM stages to describe both SCLC and NSCLC. They will give numbers to each aspect.

Cancer stages can be complex. Talking to a doctor can help a person understand how lung cancer is affecting them.

Survival rate

The American Cancer Society (ACS) provides statistics showing how many people can expect to live another 5 years or more after a cancer diagnosis at each stage.

NSCLC

The average chances of surviving 5 years or more with NSCLC are:

• 60% when it is localized
• 33%, when it is regional
• 6% when it is distant
• 23% overall

Small cell lung cancer

The chances of surviving another 5 years or more with SCLC are:

• 29% when it is localized
• 15% when it is regional
• 3% when it is distant
• 6% overall

Outlook for people with lung cancer

In recent years, improvements in diagnosis and treatment have led to improved survival rates for most cancers.

From 1975 to 1977, only 34% of people with any stage of lung cancer lived a year or more after diagnosis. By 2011 to 2014, this figure had risen to 47%.

Nevertheless, doctors often find stage 3 lung cancer challenging to treat. This is because the cancer is already spreading by the time a person notices symptoms. One way to resolve this is to get an earlier diagnosis.

Improving the outlook through screening

Screening might help detect more lung cancers in the early stages. There is no standard way to screen for lung cancer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the only recommended test is a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) test. This is a type of X-ray that scans the body and produces detailed images of the lungs.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends annual screening for anyone who is between 50 to 80 years old and meets any of the following criteria:

• has a history of heavy smoking
• currently smokes
• previously smoked and has stopped within the last 15 years

The USPSTF defines heavy smoking as having one pack of cigarettes each day for 30 years or two packs a day for 15 years.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) notes that scientists are looking at other ways of screening for lung cancer, such as:

• sputum cytology, which looks for cancer cells in the mucus
• a chest X-ray

Treatment

In most cases, doctors will treat stage 3 lung cancer with a combination of treatments:

• Chemotherapy: This is often effective in treating lung cancer.
• Radiation therapy: This may be useful in shrinking a tumor before a person has surgery.
• Surgery: This can help in situations where cancer is not yet widespread. A surgeon may remove all or part of a lung and any nearby lymph nodes where cancer has spread.
• Targeted therapy: This involves drugs that target specific factors in the body. These factors, which may be genes or proteins, encourage the growth of cancer cells. Blocking them may prevent or delay the spread of cancer.
• Immunotherapy: This is an emerging type of treatment. The doctor will give drugs that can enhance the way the immune system fights cancer.
• Laser therapy: This uses a laser beam to kill cancer cells.
• Endoscopic stent: A surgeon may use an endoscope to insert a stent if a tumor blocks a person’s airway. This can help keep the airway open.

Some people opt to participate in clinical trials. This can give them access to new medicines and techniques not otherwise available.

Researchers only carry out clinical trials when scientific evidence suggests that a treatment is likely to be safe.

Palliative care and managing symptoms

A person with stage 3 lung cancer may experience pain or discomfort that stems from their cancer or the treatment they are receiving. Some people may also experience depression and anxiety.

A medical professional may recommend counseling or prescribe medications to manage symptoms of anxiety or depression. They may also be able to recommend a local or online support group that can help.

Complementary therapies

Some complementary therapies may enhance a person’s health and help them feel more comfortable during treatment.

These include:

• touch-based practises, such as massage and chiropractic care
• dietary supplements and herbs, such as cannabis
• relaxation techniques, such as meditation and yoga

Anyone with a diagnosis of cancer should follow their treatment plan and their doctor’s instructions. There is no scientific evidence that any supplement, diet, or other therapy can cure cancer.

Anyone who is considering taking supplements or making another significant change to their lifestyle should speak with a doctor first.

Making the right dietary choices may boost a person’s health, even with a diagnosis of stage 3 cancer.

Find out more about foods to eat and avoid.

Factors affecting treatment decisions

The treatment plan for each person will depend on various factors, including:

• the stage of the cancer
• the type of cancer
• the ages and overall health of the individual
• personal preferences

Many people with stage 3 lung cancer will undergo the most aggressive form of treatment possible, as this may give a better chance of recovery. A doctor will discuss the pros and cons of the available options at this stage.

Symptoms

By stage 3, a person with lung cancer will usually have symptoms. Small and non-small cell lung cancer have similar symptoms.

However, these can vary between individuals. The location, size, and growth rate of the tumor can all affect how symptoms appear.

Common symptoms include:

• pain in the chest
• difficulty breathing
• wheezing
• a persistent cough that may produce blood
• blood in the saliva and mucus
• hoarseness or an altered voice
• loss of appetite and weight loss
• pain or difficulty when swallowing
• fatigue and weakness
• swelling in the face, veins of the neck, or both

As cancer progresses through stage 3, it starts to affect other parts of the body.

The person may have bone pain, jaundice, and other symptoms.

Treatment for cancer can be aggressive. All the treatment options can lead to further symptoms and complications.

Find out more about the complications of lung cancer.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), like lung cancer, usually results from smoking. It can also have similar symptoms to lung cancer.

Find out more about the links between these two diseases.

Living with stage 3 lung cancer

It is difficult to predict how long a person with stage 3 lung cancer may live. Some people may have many years ahead of them, whereas others may have months.

The CDC recommends that people get appropriate treatment when they need it. This includes treatment for the lung cancer itself, as well as treatment for any side effects.

People may also benefit from joining support groups to share their experiences with people going through similar situations. It may also be beneficial for people to speak to a mental health professional to help process their feelings.

The American Lung Association suggests that end-of-life plans should be made in advance to minimize stress and upset. This can ensure that people’s wishes are adhered to and that they are able to make informed choices about their end-of-life care, should it come to that.

Preventing lung cancer

According to the CDC, around 80–90% of lung cancer deaths in the United States are caused by smoking. If people smoke, the most important thing they can do for their health is to stop. Avoiding secondhand smoke can also reduce a person’s risk of developing lung cancer.

People should also have their home tested for radon, and try to avoid it as much as possible. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. It has no color or smell, so testing is the only way to find out if someone has been exposed.

Finally, avoiding known carcinogens can minimize the risk of developing lung cancer. This includes adhering to workplace health and safety guidelines.

Clinical trials

Some people opt to participate in clinical trials. This can give them access to new medicines and techniques that are not otherwise available.

Researchers only carry out clinical trials when scientific evidence suggests that a treatment is likely to be safe.

Summary

Currently, there is no cure for stage 3 lung cancers, but treatment can often help prolong life and relieve symptoms. In some cases, a person with stage 3 lung cancer may survive another 5 years or longer.