National Cancer Institute
U.S. National Institutes of Health | www.cancer.gov

NCI Home
Cancer Topics
Clinical Trials
Cancer Statistics
Research & Funding
News
About NCI
Dictionary of Cancer Terms
In English   En español
Page Options
Print This Page
More NCI Dictionaries
NCI Drug Dictionary

Glossary of Statistical Terms

NCI Dictionary of Genetics Terms

Terminology Resources
Quit Smoking Today
Search for
# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
In English   En español

stage III non-small cell lung cancer (... KAN-ser)

 Stage III is divided into stages IIIA and IIIB. In stage IIIA, cancer has spread to lymph nodes on the same side of the chest as the tumor; the tumor may be any size and cancer may have spread to the main bronchus, the chest wall, the diaphragm, the pleura around the lungs, or the membrane around the heart, but cancer has not spread to the trachea; and part or all of the lung may have collapsed or developed pneumonitis (inflammation of the lung). In stage IIIB, the tumor may be any size and has spread to lymph nodes above the collarbone or in the opposite side of the chest from the tumor; AND/OR to any of the following places: the heart, major blood vessels that lead to or from the heart, the chest wall, the diaphragm, the trachea, the esophagus, the sternum (chest bone) or backbone, to more than one place in the same lobe of the lung, and/or into the fluid of the pleural cavity surrounding the lung.

Enlarge
Stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer; drawing shows cancer in the lymph nodes above the collarbone or lymph nodes in the opposite side of the chest from the cancer; also shows cancer in the trachea, left main bronchus, esophagus, sternum, diaphragm, inferior vena cava, aorta, heart, and chest wall. One inset shows a close-up of cancer spreading from the lung into the pleura and chest wall; another inset shows a close-up of cancer spreading from the lung into the pericardium (membrane around the heart) and the heart.
Enlarge
Stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer; drawing shows cancer in the lymph nodes, the left main bronchus, pleura, diaphragm, and chest wall. One inset shows a close up of cancer spreading from the lung into the pleura and chest wall; another inset shows a close up of cancer spreading from the lung into the pericardium (membrane around the heart).




Previous Definitions:stage III melanoma, stage III Merkel cell carcinoma, stage III multiple myeloma, stage III mycosis fungoides and the Sézary syndrome, stage III nasopharyngeal cancer
Next Definitions:stage III nonmelanoma skin cancer, stage III oropharyngeal cancer, stage III ovarian epithelial cancer, stage III ovarian germ cell tumor, stage III ovarian low malignant potential tumor

A Service of the National Cancer Institute
Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health USA.gov