Stage 2 lung cancer
Stage 2 lung cancer is the second stage of lung cancer. It means your cancer is slightly more advanced than stage 1 lung cancer but still considered to be at an early stage. It may be described as locally advanced lung cancer.
Stage 2a lung cancer means one or more of the following may have occurred:
- The tumour is between 4cm and 5cm
- The cancer has grown into the main airway (bronchus) of the lung
- The cancer has grown into the membrane (visceral pleura) covering the lung
- The cancer is blocking the airway or causes inflammation in the lung tissue, resulting in the lung partly or completely collapsing.
- The cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes
- The cancer has not spread to other parts of your body.
Stage 2b lung cancer means one or more of the following may have occurred:
- The tumour is between 3cm and 7cm
- The cancer may have grown into the main airway (bronchus) of the lung
- The cancer may have grown into the membrane (visceral pleura) covering the lung
- The cancer is blocking the airway or causes inflammation in the lung tissue, resulting in the lung partly or completely collapsing.
- The cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes within the lung on the same side as the cancer and/or may have spread to the lymph nodes where the bronchus enters the lung (hilar lymph nodes)
- The cancer has not spread to other parts of your body.
Treatment for stage 2 lung cancer
There are different treatment options for stage 2 lung cancer. Curative-intent treatment is the aim for people with stage 2 lung cancer.
Your treatment will depend on several factors including:
- The type of lung cancer you have (e.g. small cell lung cancer or non-small cell lung cancer)
- The position and size of your tumour
- Your general health and fitness.
Surgery
If you have stage 2 lung cancer and are considered in good health, the primary treatment option is surgery.
If your doctors decide surgery is the best option for you, you will either have part of your lung removed (a lobectomy, segmentectomy or wedge resection) or the whole of your lung removed (pneumonectomy). This will depend on the location of the tumour.
After you have recovered from surgery, your doctor may offer adjuvant treatment to reduce the chances of your cancer recurring. This might involve chemotherapy, immunotherapy or a targeted therapy.
Andrew’s story
Andrew was diagnosed with stage 2 lung cancer. He noticed his voice was a little croakier and, after being referred to a throat specialist, it reveal a tumour had paralysed one of his vocal cords.
The size of tumour meant Andrew only needed part of his lung removing. He then had follow up chemotherapy to mop up any rogue cells.
Since his treatment, Andrew has returned to teaching and continues to play the saxophone and sing in a band. His breathing has not been affected in any way since having part of his lung removed.
Other treatments for stage 2 lung cancer
If surgery is not an option to treat your lung cancer, or you decide you don’t want to have an operation, there are other treatment options available. These includes:
After treatment for stage 2 lung cancer
After you have completed your treatment, you will have regularly follow up scans.
Typically, after five years of clear scans, you will be discharged and require no further follow ups.