Overview
Stage 3 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) diagnosis is divided into Stages 3A, 3B & 3C.
Tap “Watch Now” for an easy-to-understand overview of Stage 3 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer; then compare the treatment options side-by-side.
- Stage 3A Lung Cancer
- Stage 3B Lung Cancer
- Stage 3C Lung Cancer
- Understanding EGFR & PD-L1
Stage 3A (1)
Listen Now
Stage 3A NSCLC diagnosis is when the tumor has spread to the lymph nodes around the main airway called the trachea or near the carina, AND:
1. The tumor is 5 centimeters or less
Or
2. One or more of the following has happened:
- The lung cancer has spread to the inner lining of your lung.
- The lung cancer has spread into your bronchus but not where the main airway branches an area called the carina.
- One of the lungs has collapsed or has an inflammation as shown at the bottom of the image.
What Tests Will I Need and Why?
Blood and Imaging tests are done to understand your general health, confirm your diagnosis and determine your cancer stage.
Tissue Analysis is also typically done to determine if the cancer cells have any specific biomarkers which are critical to finding the best treatment option for you.
In Stage 3 NSCLC, doctors look for an EGFR Mutation and /or an elevated PD-L1 level.
If your treatment team has not already performed tests to determine your cancer’s features, please ask your doctor when these tests will be performed.
Re-read this summary as needed and then tap, “Compare My Treatment Options Now“. Our unique Comparison Page will help you understand your FDA-approved treatment options including, who can help you pay for your treatment, where and how each is given and what side-effects you may experience.
Stage 3A (2)
Listen Now
The lung cancer has spread to the lymph nodes on the same side your primary cancer and the affected lymph nodes are either in the lung tissue or near the airways AND:
1. The tumor is more than 5 centimeters but less than 7 centimeters.
or one or more of the following:
- You have more than one tumor on the same segment (lobule) of the lung as the primary tumor.
- The tumor is affecting the chest wall.
- The tumor is affecting a nerve in the diaphragm, called Phrenic Nerve.
- The tumor is affecting the lining of your chest wall (parietal pleura).
- The tumor is affecting the lining that surrounds the heart (pericardium).
Stage 3A (3)
Listen Now
The tumor is larger than 7 centimeters and/or one or more of the following has happened:
- There are more tumors in the same lung, but in different segments (lobules).
- The tumor affects the diaphragm, the space between the lungs (mediastinum), the heart, great vessels, trachea, recurrent laryngeal nerve, esophagus, vertebral bones or the carina.
Lymph nodes on the same side as the primary tumor may or may not be affected at this stage.
National Institute of Health/ treatment-lung
Stage 3B Lung Cancer (1)
Listen Now
Stage 3B (1) NSCLC diagnosis is when the tumor has spread to the lymph nodes on the opposite lung or above the collarbone, AND:
The tumor is 5 centimeters or less or, one or more of the following has happened:
- The lung cancer has spread to the inner lining of your lung.
- The lung cancer has spread into your bronchus but not where the main airway branches an area called the carina.
- One of the lungs has collapsed or has an inflammation as shown at the bottom of the image.
What Tests Will I Need and Why?
Blood and Imaging tests are done to understand your general health, confirm your diagnosis and determine your cancer stage.
Tissue analysis is also typically done to determine if the cancer cells have any specific biomarkers which are critical to finding the best treatment option for you.
In Stage 3 NSCLC, doctors look for an EGFR Mutation and an elevated PD-L1 level.
If your treatment team has not already performed tests to determine your cancer’s features, please ask your doctor when these tests will be performed.
Re-read this summary as needed and then tap, “Compare My Treatment Options Now“. Our unique Comparison Page will help you understand your FDA-approved treatment options including, who can help you pay for your treatment, where and how each is given and what side-effects you may experience.
Stage 3B Lung Cancer (2)
Listen Now
The tumor has spread to the lymph nodes around the main airway called the trachea or near the carina, and:
1. The tumor is more than 5 centimeters but less than 7 centimeters.
And/or
2. One or more of the following:
- You have more than one tumor on the same segment (lobule) of the lung as the primary tumor.
- The tumor is affecting the chest wall, a nerve in the diaphragm, called Phrenic Nerve, the lining of your chest wall (parietal pleura) or the lining that surrounds the heart (pericardium).
Or
The tumor is larger than 7 centimeters and/or
One or more of the following has happened:
- There are more tumors in the same lung, but in different segments (lobules).
- The tumor affects the diaphragm, the space between the lungs (mediastinum), the heart, great vessels, trachea, recurrent laryngeal nerve, esophagus, vertebral bones or the carina.
What Tests Will I Need and Why?
Blood and Imaging tests are done to understand your general health, confirm your diagnosis and determine your cancer stage.
Tissue analysis is also typically done to determine if the cancer cells have any specific biomarkers which are critical to finding the best treatment option for you.
In Stage 3 NSCLC, doctors look for an EGFR Mutation and an elevated PD-L1 level.
If your treatment team has not already performed tests to determine your cancer’s features, please ask your doctor when these tests will be performed.
Re-read this summary as needed and then tap, “Compare My Treatment Options Now“. Our unique Comparison Page will help you understand your FDA-approved treatment options including, who can help you pay for your treatment, where and how each is given and what side-effects you may experience.
National Institute of Health/ treatment-lung
Overview
Listen Now
Stage 3C Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer diagnosis is when the tumor has spread to the lymph nodes on the opposite lung or above the collarbone, AND:
1. The tumor is more than 5 centimeters but less than 7 centimeters and/or,
2. One or more of the following:
- You have more than one tumor on the same segment (lobule) of the lung as the primary tumor.
- The tumor is affecting the chest wall, a nerve in the diaphragm, called Phrenic Nerve, the lining of your chest wall (parietal pleura) or the lining that surrounds the heart (pericardium).
or,
The tumor is larger than 7 centimeters and/or,
One or more of the following has happened:
- There are more tumors in the same lung, but in different segments (lobules).
- The tumor affects the diaphragm, the space between the lungs (mediastinum), the heart, great vessels, trachea, recurrent laryngeal nerve, esophagus, vertebral bones or the carina.
What Tests Will I Need and Why?
Blood and Imaging tests are done to understand your general health, confirm your diagnosis and determine your cancer stage.
Tissue analysis is also typically done to determine if the cancer cells have any specific biomarkers which are critical to finding the best treatment option for you.
In Stage 3 NSCLC, doctors look for an EGFR Mutation and an elevated PD-L1 level.
If your treatment team has not already performed tests to determine your cancer’s features, please ask your doctor when these tests will be performed.
Re-read this summary as needed and then tap, “Compare My Treatment Options Now“. Our unique Comparison Page will help you understand your FDA-approved treatment options including, who can help you pay for your treatment, where and how each is given and what side-effects you may experience.
National Institute of Health/ treatment-lung
Identifying Biomarkers is critical to determining the best treatment option for you
In addition to the size and cancer stage, your lung cancer treatment options will be guided by biomarkers. Biomarkers are found in your body’s tissues or fluids. For people with Stages 1-3 NSCLC, EGFR and PD-L1 are the most common biomarkers.
EGFR-positive
EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) is a protein that helps your body with healthy cell growth. A mutation or abnormal change in your body’s EGFR gene can cause excessive cell growth and cancer.
There are different types of EGFR mutations that doctors look for including EGFR 19 deletion, EGFR L858R and EGFR exon 20 insertion. About 10-15% of patients with Lung Cancer have an EGFR mutation. EGFR L858R is the most common type.
If you test positive for EGFR, your treatment typically includes a medication to block EGFR, called TKI or a Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor.
PD-L1
PD-L1 is a protein that is found in healthy cells and acts as a “brake” to keep your immune system from attacking your body’s non-harmful cells. Some cancer cells “trick” the immune system to not turn on and therefore avoid being attacked.
If your tests show cancer cells with a high level of PD-L1 ( > than 50% of the cells have PD-L1), you may benefit from immunotherapy, a treatment type that takes the “brakes” off your immune system so it will recognize and attack the cancer.
Immunotherapy is only helpful when patients do not have any other mutation such as EGFR or ALK. These patients benefit from Targeted Therapy.
Recommended Lung Cancer Videos
Understanding the Stages of Lung Cancer
Stages 1 thru Stage 4
ASK! Will Mutation Testing Help Find The Best Treatment For Me?
Knowing May Show What Drugs Will Work & What Won't!
How Cancer Spreads
Metastatic = Advanced
Diagnosing Your Cancer
How Does a PET Scan Work?
Attitude Really Matters
Get Inspired by Ann
Commonly Searched Questions
Stage 3 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Symptoms
A Stage 3 lung cancer diagnosis is when your surrounding lung tissue is affected.
These are some common symptoms you might experience if you have Stage 3 lung cancer.
- Breathlessness
- Cough for a long time
- Feeling weak
- Coughing up blood
- Weight loss
- Chest pain
- Noisy breathing
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Paraneoplastic syndrome
- Horner’s Syndrome(drooping of the eyelid and absence of sweating on one side of the face)
Source: Cancer.org
Stage 3 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment
These are some common treatment options that are available for your Stage 3A, B and C lung cancer where surgery is possible.
Surgery to remove your lung cancer. This involves removing part of the lung or a whole lobe of the lung that is affected.
- Radiotherapy can be done before or after surgery.
- Chemotherapy can be done before or after surgery.
- Targeted Therapy targets the changes or mutations in cancer cells that help them grow, divide and spread.
- These are some common treatment options that are available for your Stage 3A, B and C lung cancer where surgery is not possible.
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy which helps a person’s immunity identify and kill cancer can be done after Chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
- Radiotherapy
- Targeted Therapy targets the changes or mutations in cancer cells that help them grow, divide and spread.
Source: Cancer.org
Stage 3 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Survival Rate
According to the SEER data, Stage 3 lung cancer falls into the regional Stage with a survival rate of 32.9%. This means that people with Stage 3 lung cancer are 32.9% as likely as people without lung cancer to live for 5 years after the diagnosis.
These numbers do not take into account recurrence (cancer coming back), non-small cell lung cancer subtypes and newer data so they should be used with caution.
Source: Cancer.gov
Stage 3 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Recurrence Rate
According to a study done in Japan in 2014, the recurrence rate of Stage 3 lung cancer is 37.6%. However, this value will change according to different locations, your overall health and your genetics.
Source: PubMed.gov
Stage 3 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Definition
Stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an advanced stage where the cancer has spread beyond the lung to nearby lymph nodes or structures within the chest. Stage 3 is subdivided into 3A, where cancer affects lymph nodes on the same side as the primary tumor and may involve nearby structures like the chest wall or pleura, and 3B, where cancer has spread to lymph nodes on the opposite side of the chest or above the collarbone, or extended to nearby structures such as the spine or major blood vessels. Although it hasn’t reached distant organs, stage 3 NSCLC presents significant treatment challenges, often requiring a combination of therapies like chemotherapy, radiation, and sometimes surgery, aimed at controlling the cancer and improving quality of life.
Source: Cancer.org
Stage 3 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Prevention
While specific prevention strategies for Stage 3 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) are not defined for this advanced stage, general recommendations to reduce the risk of developing lung cancer include:
- Avoid Smoking: The most effective way to prevent lung cancer is to not smoke. If you currently smoke, quitting as soon as possible significantly lowers your risk.
- Avoid Secondhand Smoke: Minimize exposure to secondhand smoke, which can increase lung cancer risk.
- Reduce Exposure to Carcinogens: Limit exposure to known carcinogens such as asbestos and radon. Ensure proper ventilation and use protective equipment if you work with hazardous substances.
- Healthy Diet: Maintain a diet rich in fruits and vegetables to support overall lung health.
- Regular Exercise: Engage in regular physical activity to promote overall health.
- Screening for High-Risk Individuals: For individuals at high risk, such as long-term smokers, regular low-dose CT screenings can help detect lung cancer early.
Source: Cancer.org
