Stage 1: the cancer is localized and has not spread to any lymph nodes. Stage 2: the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or the lining of the lungs, or is in a certain area of the main bronchus. Stage 3: the cancer has spread to tissue near the lungs.
These tumors may cause some symptoms, such as coughing up blood, at an earlier stage than tumors on the edges of the lungs, such as adenocarcinomas. Squamous cell carcinoma often spreads (metastasizes) to other parts of the body because of the constant flow of fluids (blood and lymph) through the lungs.
In general, the squamous cell carcinoma survival rate is very high—when detected early, the five-year survival rate is 99 percent. Even if squamous cell carcinoma has spread to nearby lymph nodes, the cancer may be effectively treated through a combination of surgery and radiation treatment.
Stage IV means the lung cancer has spread to more than 1 area in the other lung, the fluid surrounding the lung or the heart, or distant parts of the body through the bloodstream. Once cancer cells get into the blood, the cancer can spread anywhere in the body.
Squamous cell lung cancer can spread to multiple sites, including the brain, spine, and other bones, adrenal glands, and liver. Due to the lack of targeted therapies for SCC and the late stage of detection, the prognosis is often poor for these patients.
Except for Stage 1 lung cancer, adenocarcinoma carries a much worse prognosis than squamous cell cancer.
Early-stage lung cancer can often be treated with surgery alone. More advanced cases will involve some combination of systemic therapy (such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy) along with surgery and/or radiation therapy.
In general, the squamous cell carcinoma survival rate is very high—when detected early, the five-year survival rate is 99 percent.
Complications of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, include pneumonia, pleural effusion, metastasis, and Horner's syndrome. The 5-year survival rate of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, depends on the stage at diagnosis. The average survival rate ranges from 49% to 16%.
Patients with metastatic (stage 4) non-small cell lung cancer that's spread to distant organs or regions of the body have a five-year relative survival rate of 8 percent, according to ACS. Stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer that has spread regionally has a five-year relative survival rate of 37 percent.
Stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma
In stage 4, the cancer can be any size and has spread (metastasized) to one or more lymph nodes which are larger than 3 cm and may have spread to bones or other organs in the body.
Metastasis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is rare. However, certain tumor and patient characteristics increase the risk of metastasis. Prior studies have demonstrated metastasis rates of 3-9%, occurring, on average, one to two years after initial diagnosis [6].
Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma is often referred to as a neck cancer because it tends to travel to the lymph nodes in the neck and around the collarbone. Because of this, signs of metastasis may include a painful or tender lump in the neck or a sore throat that doesn't improve or go away.
As a result, pembrolizumab, given either alone or in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy, is now a standard first-line treatment for squamous cell lung cancer. However, few options exist once patients have progressed on immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy.
Stage II lung cancer is when your doctor finds one or more tumors, but only in one lung. The cancer may or may not have spread to the nearest lymph nodes. But it hasn't reached distant sites like your bones or other organs.
The sun-exposed head and neck are the most frequent sites for these cancers to arise and in most patients diagnosed with a cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, local treatment is usually curative.
Stage 3 lung cancer is when cancer has spread beyond the lung where it started but not to more distant parts of the body. There may be chest pain and wheezing, among other symptoms. As with all labels that describe cancer, the stage alone can only estimate the outlook for an individual.
Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)
Approximately 10-15% of lung cancers are SCLC. These cancers are the most aggressive form of lung cancer and usually affect smokers. SCLC spreads rapidly, often before people notice symptoms.
Most (95% to 98%) of squamous cell carcinomas can be cured if they are treated early. Once squamous cell carcinoma has spread beyond the skin, though, less than half of people live five years, even with aggressive treatment.
Squamous cell lung cancer is a unique subset of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with an aggressive phenotype.
The most common chemotherapy drug combination used to treat stage 4 non−small cell lung cancer is cisplatin or carboplatin with gemcitabine. Other chemotherapy combinations that may be used include: cisplatin or carboplatin and docetaxel (Taxotere) carboplatin and paclitaxel.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung is closely correlated with a history of tobacco smoking. It's more closely associated with tobacco smoking than other forms of lung cancer. Other risk factors for lung cancer include: Exposure to second hand smoke.