9. What’s the stage?
The term “stage” refers to how far the cancer has spread. Small cell lung cancer has two stages:
- In the limited stage, the cancer is only present in one lung and perhaps the surrounding lymph nodes.
- In the extensive stage, the cancer is in both lungs and/or other parts of the body.
Nonsmall cell cancer has four stages, and the diagnosis depends on how far the cancer has spread.
