Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsDiagnosis and StagingTreatmentCopingFor Loved Ones
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Diagnosis and Staging
Treatment
Coping
For Loved Ones
Early-stage lung cancer usually refers to stages 1, 2, and 3Anon-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) as well as limited-stagesmall cell lung cancer(SCLC). You may have no symptoms in these early stages of lung cancer, but early signs to watch out for include chest pain, a persistent cough, bloody phlegm, recurrent lung infections, wheezing, or unexplained weight loss.
When lung cancer is found early, your prognosis is much better. With some stage 1 cancers, treatments may cure your cancer. In other types of early-stage cancer, you have a good chance of remission and a low chance of recurrence with prompt treatment.
Healthcare providers may behesitant to use the word “cured"in those cases, but you should be able to manage your symptoms so you can enjoy a full, active life for many years.
Types of Early-Stage Lung Cancer
Early-stage lung cancer is divided into different categories depending on whether the cancer is NSCLC or SCLC, how far it has spread, and how large the tumors are.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Early Stages
Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for up to 85% of lung cancers.These cancers are further broken down into:
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Stagesconsidered early-stage (or operable) include:
Small Cell Lung Cancer Early Stage
Small cell lung cancer is the second most common type of lung cancer and is broken down into only two types: limitedandextensive.
Limited-stage SCLC may be considered an early stage of lung cancer. Because this type of cancer grows so quickly,chemotherapyorradiationare considered the best treatments for stopping their growth.
Carcinoid Tumors of the Lung
Early-Stage Lung Cancer Symptoms
In its early stages, lung cancer may not causeanysymptoms, or the symptoms might be mistaken for a common cold. Some of these early signs and symptoms include:
Some people with NSCLC or SCLC may not have “typical” symptoms. Instead, they present with vague complaints such as less tolerance for exercise or lack of strength for certain activities. New diagnostic methods are placing emphasis on different types of symptoms that may alert healthcare providers to lung cancer earlier.
It’s also important to consider thatsymptoms of lung cancer in womenmay differ from those in men. Keep your healthcare provider informed about any unusual health concerns, especially if you areat risk for lung cancer,.
There are several tests and procedures used todiagnose lung cancer:
Increasingly,genetic testing(sometimes called molecular profiling) is being used to help healthcare providers offer patients more personalized diagnoses.It’s recommended that all those diagnosed with lung cancer undergo molecular profiling to identify and target specific mutations.
Advance-stage lung cancer is primarilytreatedwith systemic therapies, which treat lung cancer cells in lung tumors and anywhere else the cancer hasmetastasizedin the body. In last-stage lung cancer specifically, healthcare providers focus mainly onpalliative care, which involves managing pain and reducing symptoms (rather than extending life).
On the other hand, with early-stage lung cancer, there is a greater chance that you may have acomplete remission. Local therapies may be sufficient, especially with very early-stage cases.
Local therapies, as the name implies, treat the cancer where it originated. Both surgery and radiation therapy are considered local treatments.
Surgery
Surgery is often the treatment of choice for early-stage NSCLC with five-year survival rates ranging from 77% for those with the least invasive type of stage 1a cancer to 23% for those with stage 3A tumors.
Surgery for small cell lung cancer is done less frequently but may be appropriate if the tumor is small.
For NSCLC, there are several different types of surgery that may be done depending on the size and location of your tumor.
Traditionally, a large chest incision was required, but, surgery is increasingly being done in a less invasive procedure called video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).Not all surgeons perform this procedure. In addition, there are some tumors that cannot be accessed well with this method.
Adjuvant Chemotherapy
If the cancer has started to spread, systemic therapy may be used after surgery via adjuvantchemotherapyto try and ensure that all the cancer cells have been destroyed.
Chemo drugs can act on cancer cells that may exist but cannot be detected on imaging tests. Killing these unseen metastasized cells may help prevent recurrences of cancer. This approach is most often used for tumors that are stage 2 or later.
With larger tumors, the chemo drugs may be administered prior to surgery to decrease the size of the tumor before operating. This is known as neoadjuvant chemotherapy and isn’t usually necessary for early-stage cancer.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy may also be used after surgery as an adjuvant treatment.It may be the first course of action, especially if tumors are small, but inoperable (due to their location). In such instances,stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), also known as “cyberknife,” may be done.
There is some research suggesting that patients who survived five years following SBRT remain cancer-free longer than the average patient treated for NSCLC.
SBRT is sometimes considered a good alternative to surgery in older adults or for those who have other medical conditions that could make surgery risky. There is still some debate regarding how best to apply this treatment, so it’s important to have a careful discussion with your healthcare provider and consider a second opinion.
Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy, also called PDT or light-activating treatment, uses a light-sensitive medication that is injected into your bloodstream. Healthcare providers then insert a scope into your lungs via the bronchial passage and use a special light to destroy cancer cells that have absorbed the medication. It’s usually used along with other treatments.
Photodynamic therapy is used less often than surgery or SBRT, but, in some cases, it may successfully get rid of all signs of cancer when used for early-stage NSCLC with small tumors that are centrally located.
Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy
Whiletargeted therapiesandimmunotherapiesare used very often with advanced lung cancer, they are not yet approved to treat early-stage lung cancer.
Researchers, however, continue to study how these treatments might support surgery and lower the risk of recurrence.
Being diagnosed with lung cancer can be terrifying, whether it is an early-stage or advanced-stage tumor, and you may wonder how to begin to plan your next step.
It’s important to ask many questions and be your own advocate in your care. The treatment of lung cancer is advancing rapidly, and it’s important to find an oncologist who specializes in lung cancer.
For Loved OnesAs you take on the role of caregiver, learn how tosupport loved ones with cancerand research ways to help your family member or friend enjoy life while managing the disease. It’s also important to make sure you take care of yourself so you can be a strong caretaker for others.
As you take on the role of caregiver, learn how tosupport loved ones with cancerand research ways to help your family member or friend enjoy life while managing the disease. It’s also important to make sure you take care of yourself so you can be a strong caretaker for others.
Risk and Fear of Recurrence
While early-stage 1A lung cancer has the potential to be cured with surgery, therisk of recurrenceis significant. Dealing with this fear can be challenging.
Connecting with others who have lung cancer is a great way to obtain support and can sometimes be an excellent way to learn about the latest research on your disease. There are manyonline lung cancer support groupsand communities available, and finding others who are facing the same diagnosis can offer you moral support and comfort.
If you find that fear is interfering with your quality of life, seek out a professional who can help you with your emotions.
Summary
Early-stage lung cancer typically includes stages 1, 2, and 3A NSCLC and limited-stage SCLC. In these early stages, lung cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms, but warning signs include persistent cough, bloody phlegm, recurrent lung infections, and unexplained weight loss. Identifying lung cancer early significantly improves the prognosis.
Treatment options for early-stage lung cancer focus on local therapies like surgery and radiation, which target the tumor directly. Radiation therapy may be used as an alternative to surgery, particularly in patients unable to undergo surgery. Adjuvant chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and, in specific cases, stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) can help prevent recurrence.
15 Sources
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American Cancer Society.Lung Cancer Signs and Symptoms.
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Hensing T, Chawla A, Batra R, Salgia R.A personalized treatment for lung cancer: molecular pathways, targeted therapies, and genomic characterization.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2014;799:85-117. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-8778-4_5
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