stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ONC-008189",
  "term": "stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer",
  "field": "Oncology and biomedicine",
  "definition": "Stage III non-small cell lung cancer is divided into stages IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC. In stage IIIB, the tumor is 5 centimeters or smaller and cancer has spread to lymph nodes above the collarbone on either side of the chest or to any lymph nodes on the opposite side of the chest as the primary tumor. Also, one or more of the following may be found: (1) cancer has spread to the main bronchus, but has not spread to the carina; and/or (2) cancer has spread to the innermost layer of the membrane that covers the lung; and/or (3) cancer has spread to a lobe next to the lobe with the primary tumor; and/or (4) part of the lung or the whole lung has collapsed or has developed pneumonitis; OR the tumor is not larger than 7 centimeters and cancer has spread to multiple lymph node groups in the middle of the chest between the lungs. Also, one or more of the following may be found: (1) there are one or more separate tumors in the same lobe of the lung as the primary tumor; and/or (2) cancer has spread to any of the following: the membrane that lines the inside of the chest wall, the chest wall, certain nerves in the chest including the nerve that controls the diaphragm, a vein that helps return blood from the chest to the heart, or the outer layer of tissue of the sac around the heart; OR the tumor may be any size and cancer has spread to one or more lymph node groups in the middle of the chest between the lungs. Also, one or more of the following is found: (1) there are one or more separate tumors in the same lobe or a different lobe of the lung with the primary tumor; and/or (2) cancer has spread to any of the following: the thymus, trachea, carina, esophagus, breastbone or backbone, diaphragm, heart, major blood vessels in the chest including the aorta or vena cava, the bones or canal of the spine, or major nerves in the chest including those that travel from the neck and spinal cord into the shoulder, arm, and hand, and the nerve that controls the larynx (voice box).",
  "references": [
    "NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/oncology/stage-iiib-non-small-cell-lung-cancer/"
}