Stage 4 lung cancer
Lung cancer in Stage 4
AJCC’s TNM method is the most popular method to stage lung cancer and it divides stages into primary, regional, and distant. This ranges from T0 meaning no proof of tumor to T4 indicating that the cancer has spread in the chest and even beyond the lung. Stage 4 lung cancer has the cancer spread to other parts of the body such as the liver, brain and other lungs. It is also called lung cancer with tumor spread or metastatic lung cancer.
Types of lung cancer that are evident in stage 4
they are categorized into two main types the small cell lung cancers. Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer is more distinguishable then Small-Cell Lung Cancer under a microscope and generally has a better prognosis. The stage 4 lung cancer is the period when people with either of the kinds of the disease receive their first diagnosis. For non-small cell lung cancer, about 40% of the patients are diagnosed with stage 4 while for small cell lung cancer, 66% of patients receive this stage 4 diagnosis – National Cancer Institute.
Symptoms of lung cancer in the stage four There are several symptoms.
such as the following, may appear if lung cancer has spread to other parts of the body: The mere name jaundice, which is eye and skin yellowing, is an excruciating sensation in the skeletal structuring. They include headache with increased lymph nodes in the collarbone or in the neck region, as well as diseases of the nervous system, which are manifested in the form of dizziness, seizures, light-headedness, muscle weakness, or tingling sensation in the arms or legs The signs of early-stage lung cancer include regular coughing with chest pain and shortness of breath, hoarseness, and cough with blood. There is also change in symptoms, depending in which parts of the body lung cancer has affected or spread to. For instance, brain metastases are associated with neurological problems and headaches a situation that differs from a person with general body swellings and jaundice that is a result of liver metastases.
Treatment of lung cancer stage 4
Treatment for end stage lung cancer requires a team approach usually involving multiple specialists. That’s why many patients with the diagnosis of the advanced cancer stage choose to undergo treatment at any Cancer Center. Thoracic surgeons, pulmonologists, medical oncologists and other staff members, who treat only lung cancers accumulate considerable experience that ultimately helps a patient in our thoracic oncology program. Also, our treatment teams are in touch with caregivers who help patients to overcome the specific psychological and physical challenges related to stage 4 lung cancer. Increased effectiveness, more comfortable and joyful days, and a higher quality of life of our patients are achieved thanks to the qualitative experience of doctors, advanced treatments, and a vast clinical trial.