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Getting an Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Diagnosis: What You Need to Know
In this video, lung oncologists discuss what it means to get an advanced lung cancer diagnosis, and how certain stages are treated differently.
Written by Brittany Doohan | Reviewed by Alexandra Schwarz, MD
Updated on August 31, 2023Lung cancer is divided into three different categories: localized lung cancer, locally advanced lung cancer, and advanced or metastatic cancer.
Localized lung cancer is when patients have a small tumor and no lymph nodes in the center of the chest.
Locally advanced lung cancer is when patients have lymph nodes in the center of the chest.
Advanced or metastatic cancer is when the cancer has escaped the lungs.
Additional Medical Contributors (2)
- Jorge Gomez, MDDr. Gomez is a Hematologist and Oncologist at Mount Sinai Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
- Kevin Sullivan, MDDr. Sullivan is a lung oncologist at Monter Cancer Center, Northwell Health.
References
American Cancer Association. (2019). Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stages.
American Cancer Association. (2023). Treatment Choices for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, by Stage.
View All References (2)
American Lung Association. (2023). Lung Cancer Basics.
UpToDate. (2023). Overview of the initial treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
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