The stage at which a lung cancer is initially found is a very important factor in determining the possible treatments available for the lung cancer as well as for determining the outlook or prognosis for the person with lung cancer. Lung Cancers are divided into two general categories. Those two categories are either Non Small Cell Lung Cancers or Small Cell Lung Cancers. Non Small Cell Lung Cancers are staged as Stage I (which is the earliest stage), Stage II (which comes in an “A” or “B”), Stage III (which also comes in an “A” or “B”) and finally stage IV.  Stage IV Non Small Cell Lung Cancer is the most advanced lung cancer, which means that by the time it has been found, Stage IV Non Small Cell Lung cancer has spread to other organs such as the liver, the bones or the brain. With minimal exceptions, surgery to remove a Non Small Cell Lung Cancer is only a possibility if the Non Small Cell Lung Cancer is found at the early stages such as Stages I, IIA , IIB or at the most Stage IIIA. Once it is determined that the Non Small Cell Lung cancer is Stage IIIB or greater, surgery is typically no longer possible. Stage IIIB and Stage IV Non Small Cell Lung Cancers are not able to be cured, since surgery is typically the only treatment for lung cancer that offers us the possibility for a cure and those two stages of Non Small Cell Lung Cancer are not candidates for possible surgery. The second general type of lung cancers, the ones called Small Cell Lung Cancers, are divided into only two stages. Those two stages for Small Cell Lung Cancers are “Limited” Disease or “Extensive” Disease. There are no numbered stages (such as Stage I, Stage II, Stage III or Stage IV) for Small Cell Lung Cancer – only “Limited” or “Extensive” Stage. All of these concepts and many more are covered in detail and in easy-to-understand terms in the Lung Cancer audio CD available on www.CancerInPlainEnglish.com.