Lung Cancer in India: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Oncology Care

A chest X-ray or CT scan may help identify an abnormal area in the lung. PET-CT may be used in selected cases to evaluate the extent of disease.

Bronchoscopy

During bronchoscopy, a doctor uses a specialized instrument to examine the airways and may collect tissue or fluid samples for testing.

Biopsy

A biopsy involves collecting a tissue sample from the suspicious area. The sample is examined by a pathologist to determine whether cancer is present and identify its type.

Molecular and Biomarker Testing

For selected patients, particularly those with advanced NSCLC, molecular or biomarker testing can provide important information about the tumor.

These results may help the oncology specialist determine whether a patient could benefit from targeted therapy or other personalized treatment.

Why Is Lung Cancer Staging Important?

Staging determines how far the cancer has progressed.

For NSCLC, doctors generally classify the disease from Stage 0 through Stage IV. The assessment considers the primary tumor, nearby lymph nodes, and whether cancer has spread to distant parts of the body.

Small cell lung cancer is commonly classified as limited-stage or extensive-stage disease.