Stage 3B lung cancer means that your cancer has spread to the lymph nodes on the opposite side of your chest or has invaded another area such as the vena cava–a large vein that carries blood to the heart from your upper body. If lymph nodes are involved, there is no role for surgery, says Dr. Joseph Friedberg, chief of thoracic surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. If there is no lymph node involvement, surgery may still be an option.
Treating Stage 3B Lung Cancer: When Does Surgery Play a Role?
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Treating Stage 3B Lung Cancer: When Does Surgery Play a Role?
Stage 3B lung cancer means that your cancer has spread to the lymph nodes on the opposite side of your chest or has invaded another area such as the vena cava–a large vein that carries blood to the heart from your upper body. If lymph nodes are involved, there is no role for surgery, says Dr. Joseph Friedberg, chief of thoracic surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. If there is no lymph node involvement, surgery may still be an option.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
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Treatment: Early Stages
Treatment: New Advancements
There are several types of lung cancer surgery, and the decision about which is best is based largely on the location of your cancer, its size and whether it has started to spread.
Treatment: Surgery
There are several types of lung cancer surgery, and the decision about which is best is based largely on the location of your cancer, its size and whether it has started to spread.