STAGE 3 LUNG CANCER

Stage 3 lung cancer affects the lymph nodes

April 19, 2010 – The two most common types of lung cancer are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Asbestos exposure can be a factor in developing either type of cancer, the treatment of which depends on what “stage” the cancer has advanced to.

When it comes to asbestos-related lung cancer, it is the "non-small cell lung cancer" type that accounts for 85 to 90 percent of all lung cancer cases.

Non-small cell lung cancer can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and drug therapy.

Stage 3 lung cancer symptoms

Stage 3 lung cancer affects the lymph nodes. People with early-stage asbestos-induced lung cancer often display no symptoms.

In later stages, the most common symptoms of Stage 3 lung cancer include a persistent cough; chest pain; hoarseness; weight loss; loss of appetite; bloody phlegm; difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; susceptibility to bronchitis and pneumonia; and wheezing.

Stage 3 lung cancer can mean one of four things:

• The cancer has spread to nodes on the other side of the chest or to nodes above either collarbone;
• There is more than one tumor in the affected lobe of the lung;
• The tumor has grown into another major structure in the chest, which could be the heart, the windpipe, the gullet or a main blood vessel;
• There is a fluid collection around the lung that contains cancer cells.

The prognosis for lung cancer patients is poor. Nearly 60 percent of patients diagnosed with lung cancer die within one year, and nearly 75 percent die within two years.

The truth about asbestos

Despite the fatal health consequences associated with asbestos exposure, asbestos is still imported and used in the United States for its insulation properties. The United States imported and used an estimated 1,820 tons of asbestos in 2007, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Government sources estimate that in the next decade more than 35,000 people nationwide will be diagnosed with the deadliest form of asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma.

Time to seek justice

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, and seek FREE legal guidance on filing asbestos cancer claims, please notify us through the communication form at left. We will pursue your claim with vigilance to help you pay for medical bills, lost wages, and suffering.

Please know, there is no cost to you until we obtain a verdict or a settlement in your favor.