Lung Cancer Treatment By Stages

From the Oncology Channel:

Stage 1 and Stage 2
Surgical resection of the tumor is the principle form of treatment for patients with Stage 1 or Stage 2 lung cancer. If, during surgery, the resected lung margins are found to be close to or involved with the tumor, the physician may recommend additional treatment in the form of radiotherapy (radiation therapy). Radiotherapy is given to reduce the rate of tumor re-growth in the area of the original tumor.

If a patient is not medically able to withstand tumor resection, radiotherapy alone may be administered to destroy the tumor tissue.

Stage 3
Experts often divide Stage 3 cancer patients into three groups: patients with obvious Stage 3 disease who show abnormal, enlarged lymph nodes on chest x-ray or CT scan; patients with normal-appearing, but cancerous mediastinal lymph nodes that are identified during mediastinoscopy (examination of the chest cavity with an endoscope); and classic Stage 3b patients with tumors of any size and cancerous lymph nodes within the mediastinum and/or the carina (tracheal ridge), hilum ("pit" for entry/exit of vessels within the lungs), upper ribs, or upper collarbone region.