Why is lung cancer spread through the mediastinum dangerous?

Metastatic Disease: Once the tumor has extended beyond the confines of the lung, there is a good chance that the process has disseminated throughout the body and consequently the chances for a cure decline substantially. The only type of lung cancer that is successfully cured is early lung cancer - less than 3 centimeters in diameter without evidence of lymph node spread. Once symptoms appear, it process is incurabl.

Advanced: The staging of lung cancer assigns a higher stage for mediastinal structure involvement and mediastinal lymph node involvement. Stage iii or iv. Mediastinal involvement means that the process has spread beyond the lungs and is considered to be a systemic illness. 5 year survival for stage iii and IV lower than for stage i and ii.

Usually incurable: Once lung cancer spreads to the mediastinum, usually to the lymph nodes, but also other organs, it is generally incurable by surgical resection or other treatments.