Your Guide to Stage 3 Lung Cancer

Medically Reviewed By Adithya Cattamanchi, M.D.

Doctors diagnose stage 3 lung cancer when the cancer spreads to nearby lymph nodes or other organs in the chest without invading different parts of the body. Lung cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of death worldwide in people assigned male and female at birth, accounting for approximately 1.8 million Trusted Source World Health Organization Highly respected international organization Go to source people in 2020, according to the World Health Organization.

It is more common Trusted Source American Cancer Society Highly respected international organization Go to source among older adults and people assigned male at birth. Although, the specific cause is not known. Various factors increase the risk of getting stage 3 lung cancer, including smoking and exposure to certain chemicals such as asbestos.

Read on to learn more about stage 3 lung cancer. This guide also includes information about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and possible treatments for stage 3 lung cancer.

What is stage 3 lung cancer?

Female talking with her doctor
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The cancer stage refers to the tumor’s size, how aggressive it is, where it is, and how far it spreads.

Stage 3 lung cancer, also known as locally advanced cancer, is the last stage before metastasis. It refers to cancer that spreads from the lungs to nearby lymph nodes or other organs in the chest but does not invade distant organs like the brain or bones.

There are three subtypes of stage 3 lung cancer: 3A, 3B, and 3C.

Types of lung cancer

According to the American Lung Association, there are two types of lung cancer.

Small-cell lung cancer

Also known as oat cell cancer, small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is less common than non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It accounts for around 15% Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source of all lung cancers.

SCLC is typically an aggressive form that grows fast and spreads rapidly, unlike NSCLC.

Due to the tumors’ ability to spread quickly, SCLC may respond well to chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Learn more about small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer

NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 85% Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source of all lung cancer cases worldwide.

There are several subtypes of NSCLC, including: 

  • Squamous cell carcinoma: It is the most common type of NSCLC. It is a malignancy that begins in thin, flat cells called squamous cells. Squamous cells line airways, but they can also spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes.
  • Adenocarcinoma: It starts in glandular tissue or epithelial tissue and can take Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source many shapes and sizes. Adenocarcinomas grow more slowly than other types of lung cancers. However, they can still spread to other parts of the body via lymphatic channels.
  • Large undifferentiated carcinoma: It is a rare subtype that occurs on both sides of the chest wall and can cause significant symptoms for people with this type of cancer. It occurs when there is a proliferation of small cells in a diffuse pattern, with no evidence of differentiation into the squamous epithelium.
  • Sarcomatoid carcinoma: It is a rare type of lung cancer that involves connective tissue instead of epithelial cells, which makes it difficult for doctors to treat. Doctors often diagnose it at an advanced stage when there are already signs of metastasis.

What are the symptoms of stage 3 lung cancer?

Stages 1 and 2 do not always cause noticeable symptoms. However, by stage 3, a person with lung cancer will usually experience symptoms such as:

What causes stage 3 lung cancer?

Stage 3 lung cancer occurs when old or damaged cells divide and multiply, unmanageable.

It is due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors, including Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Governmental authority Go to source :

  • experiences smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke
  • personal history of cancer or family history of lung cancer
  • history of exposure to asbestos
  • exposure to radon or other lung irritants, like silica dust and chromium 
  • air pollution from motor vehicles, factories, and power plants

How do doctors diagnose stage 3 lung cancer?

A pulmonologist typically diagnoses stage 3 lung cancer. Pulmonologists are doctors who specialize in treating diseases of the lungs.

Your doctor will start by taking and discussing your medical and family history with you. They may also perform a physical exam to check for signs of swollen lymph nodes above your collarbone, atypical sounds in your lungs, or a mass in your abdomen.

If your doctor suspects stage 3 lung cancer, they will recommend some diagnostic tests, including:

  • CT scan: It is similar to an X-ray but uses radiation instead of light. This type of scan allows doctors to see how much tissue the cancer affects and how far into the lung the cancer spreads.
  • X-ray: A chest X-ray can help doctors detect pockets of fluid on the lungs, nodules on the chest wall, or any other atypical changes in the area.
  • PET scan: Uses radiation to produce images of organs or tissues in the body. This test can help your doctor determine if there are signs of cancer or other changes in your lungs.
  • Biopsy: Doctors remove a small piece of tissue from the lung area where they suspect the cancer is and examine it under a microscope.
  • Sputum cytology: It involves taking a small sample of your sputum and looking at it under a microscope for microscopic differences that may indicate lung cancer.
  • Blood tests: These tests may include a complete blood count, which measures the levels of different components of the blood.

Learn more about lung cancer.

What are the treatments for stage 3 lung cancer?

Stage 3 lung cancer is a serious condition that requires immediate treatment. Your doctor will likely recommend the following treatments for stage 3 lung cancer:

  • Lobectomy: During this surgery, your doctor or a surgical oncologist can remove any part of the lung that contains cancer cells and lymph nodes that the disease may affect. This can help in situations when cancer is not yet widespread. Your doctor may also recommend surgery in stage 3 cancer after radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
  • Radiation therapy: It uses high energy electromagnetic waves to shrink Trusted Source American Cancer Society Highly respected international organization Go to source or completely clear cancer cells. Doctors usually perform the treatment in cycles, giving you treatments over several weeks or months.
  • Chemotherapy: It refers to a group of drugs doctors use to treat cancer. Doctors may recommend Trusted Source American Cancer Society Highly respected international organization Go to source it if other treatments do not work for you or if there are no signs that cancer will recur within 6 months to 1 year after the initial treatment ends.
  • Immunotherapy: This is a treatment that uses Trusted Source American Cancer Society Highly respected international organization Go to source medications to help your own immune system recognize and get rid of cancer cells more efficiently.

If you have stage 3 lung cancer, it is important that you talk with your doctor about treatment options based on your symptoms and other lifestyle factors. This way, you can make an informed decision about the most effective treatment for you.

Summary

Stage 3 lung cancer refers to cancer that spreads to nearby lymph nodes or sites of previous surgery without invading distant organs like the brain or bones. Various factors increase the risk of getting stage 3 lung cancer, including smoking and exposure to certain chemicals, such as asbestos.

Symptoms may include shortness of breath or wheezing, cough containing blood or phlegm, chest pains, and unexplained weight loss

To diagnose stage 3 lung cancer, your doctor or a pulmonologist will take a thorough medical and family history and discuss it with you. They may also perform a physical exam and recommend a wide array of tests to diagnose the disease, including blood tests, biopsy, and imaging tests.

Treatment typically includes a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Be sure to talk with your doctor if you experience any symptoms that concern you.

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Medical Reviewer: Adithya Cattamanchi, M.D.
Last Review Date: 2022 Sep 7
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