Yes, understanding your specific substage is really helpful going into surgery! For non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), Stage 1 is broken down into substages based on tumor size and behavior. Here's a quick breakdown:
Stage 1A (divided into three parts by tumor size)
- 1A1 — Tumor is 1 cm or smaller
- 1A2 — Tumor is Show Full Answer
Yes, understanding your specific substage is really helpful going into surgery! For non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), Stage 1 is broken down into substages based on tumor size and behavior. Here's a quick breakdown:
Stage 1A (divided into three parts by tumor size):
- 1A1 — Tumor is 1 cm or smaller
- 1A2 — Tumor is between 1 cm and 2 cm
- 1A3 — Tumor is between 2 cm and 3 cm
Stage 1B — Tumor is between 3 cm and 4 cm, or meets one of these criteria:
- Partially growing into the bronchus (airway), but not reaching where the windpipe splits
- Cancer cells are in the pleura (tissue wrapping the lungs)
- Airways are partially blocked In all Stage 1 cases, there is no spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant organs — which is great news for surgical outcomes.
Your surgical team will use your specific substage to plan the best approach. Don't hesitate to ask them exactly which substage applies to you and what that means for your surgery. No question is too small when it comes to your care!
August 31
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