What is stage 4 lung cancer?
Severity of cancers are usually determined by stages. Lungcancers are also staged with their severity with stage 1 lung cancer being the least severe form and stage 4 being the most severe form. Stage 4 lung cancer is not only affecting lungs but it also spreads to various other parts of body including brain.
In stage 4, the cancer has begun to spread into the liver, bones and brain. The patient is often very weak, has little appetite and may become depressed. Prior to stage 4, the cancer has already spread from the lungs into the rest of the chest, including the heart. Preferred Treatment Options It is rare for radiation therapy to be used after stage 3. The preferred treatment options for stage 4 patients are chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, clinical trials and supportive care. Radiation therapy might be used in some clinical trials. Radioactive medication is also sometimes used for various reasons. Surgery is not recommended in part because the body is often too weak. In addition, surgical procedures can cause a condition called lymphocytopenia. This means that the number of white blood cells has become low. This condition is linked to decreased survival rates, especially in lung cancer patients in the later stages of the disease. Chemotherapy and Internal Radiation Treatment Traditi
