Stage 3 Lung Cancer and Treatment

In stage 3 lung cancer, the tumor size is larger than 7 cm. Additionally, tumors causing blockage of the main bronchus, damage to the pleura or ribs, or spreading to lymph nodes outside the lung (mediastinal lymph nodes) are classified as stage 3.

What Is Stage 3A Lung Cancer?

The presence of any of the following conditions indicates stage 3A lung cancer:

1. Metastasis to mediastinal lymph nodes on the same side of the affected lung (e.g., the cancer is in the right lung, but the lymph node involvement is also on the right side).
2. Cancer spreading to surrounding tissues in a way that makes surgical removal nearly impossible (e.g., a tumor larger than 10 cm or spreading to the main bronchus or diaphragm muscle).

What Is Stage 3B Lung Cancer?

The presence of any of the following conditions indicates stage 3B lung cancer:

1. Metastasis to lymph nodes on the opposite side of the affected lung (e.g., the cancer is in the right lung, but the lymph node involvement is on the left side).
2. Metastasis to lymph nodes outside the chest cavity (e.g., neck, armpit, or groin lymph nodes).
3. Cancer spreading to tissues such as the spine, esophagus, or heart in a way that makes surgical removal impossible.

Treatment for Stage 3 Lung Cancer

In the video below, you can watch the real-life story of a patient treated for stage 3 lung cancer.

• The primary treatment method for stage 3 lung cancer is chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
• For non-small cell lung cancer without metastasis to mediastinal lymph nodes, surgery by experienced thoracic surgeons may be performed as the first treatment.
• In non-small cell lung cancer with metastasis to mediastinal lymph nodes, chemotherapy (and sometimes radiotherapy) is applied first. If there is no progression in the cancer, surgery may be performed. A follow-up PET-CT is conducted 4 weeks after the last chemotherapy session to evaluate.
• The treatment for stage 3 small cell lung cancer consists of chemotherapy + radiotherapy + prophylactic brain irradiation.
• Treatment decisions for this stage should be made by a multidisciplinary team, including medical oncology, radiation oncology, pulmonology, and thoracic surgery specialists.