Information for Consumers - Lung Cancer (Staging)

This article tells you about lung cancer staging, including what imaging tests you may need to have.


What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer is the growth of cancer cells in the tissues of the lung. There are two main types of lung cancer, small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.


Staging of lung cancer

If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer your doctor will need to see if the cancer has spread (called "staging"). This helps the doctor plan your treatment. The Imaging tests your doctor requests will depend on your symptoms.


If you have lung cancer your doctor may request one or more of the following:

  • Chest x-ray
  • CT scan
  • PET scan
  • Bone scan
  • MRI scan
  • Endoscopic ultrasound guided biopsy of lymph nodes
  • Percutaneous transthoracic biopsy

Results

A radiology doctor will look at your scans and write a report for your doctor.


Further information

For more detailed information, please access InsideRadiology at: www.insideradiology.com.au


This is a resource produced especially for consumers by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists: www.ranzcr.edu.


A guide to gathering information that you may need for making informed decisions is published by the Consumers' Health Council of Australia at: https://chf.org.au


If you would like to look at other relevant articles, please access the following:


Or access the Diagnostic Imaging Pathways website at: radiologyacrossborders.org/diagnostic_imaging_pathways/consumer-info


Or if you have questions or require any other information please contact your Doctor.


Consumer participation

This information has been reviewed by representatives from the following groups:

  • Aboriginal people
  • People with disabilities
  • Seniors
  • CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse)
  • The Health Consumers' Council

Feedback

All feedback, comments and suggestions regarding consumer information at Diagnostic Imaging Pathways are welcome. Please direct them to the following email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


Disclaimer

This article is intended as general information only. The Department of Health cannot accept any legal liability arising from its use. The information is kept as up-to-date and accurate as possible, but please be warned that it is always subject to change


Copyright

© Copyright 2017, Department of Health Western Australia. All Rights Reserved. This article and its content has been prepared by Radiology Across Borders and is protected by copyright.

Date reviewed: July 2017

Date of next review: July 2019