A Stage III lung cancer diagnosis means the disease has progressed locally beyond the primary site into nearby tissues or lymph nodes. Because Stage III is highly diverse and complex, obtaining a precise picture of your specific tumor is essential. This page will guide you through the nuances of Stage III, the diagnostic tests used to evaluate your lungs, and how biomarker testing serves as a vital tool for treatment planning.
Stage III is often described as “locally advanced” lung cancer. In these videos, we break down the critical distinctions within this stage, including the differences between Stage IIIB and IIIC, and explore the unique clinical complexities that your medical team evaluates when determining the boundaries of the disease.
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To build an effective, personalized map for your care, your team relies on diagnostic staging. The experts in these videos explain the specialized tests used to evaluate your lung health and look closely at lymph nodes, as well as the surgeon's specialized role in clarifying the exact reach of the tumor.
Biomarker and molecular testing play a vital role in mapping out Stage III care. In these videos, cancer experts discuss how identifying specific cellular mutations helps determine if targeted therapies or clinical trials are options for you, and how pulmonologists work to ensure enough tissue is safely captured for these deep-dive analyses.
