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Staging

Staging is the process by which your cancer specialists determine how far your cancer has spread (or its stage). Most cancers are divided into four categories, 1 to 4, where 1 is minimal spread and four is maximal spread, usually to areas in the body distant to where the cancer developed. As the number increases, the prognosis for the patient worsens and because the tumor is harder to cure. Unfortunately, the majority of patients with lung cancer seek medical attention by the time the disease has reached categories 3 and 4.

It is important for doctors to put patients into the proper category. In this way, they can tell patients what the best treatment is for them. Stages 3 and 4 usually require treatments that affect the whole body. It is also important to classify patients into these categories so that doctors can figure out whether new treatment methods are working. If patient groups weren't made uniform by this method, there would be no way of studying the problem scientifically.

Doctors look at 3 major items with regard to staging. Often your physicians gather this information while seeking confirmation of the diagnosis.