Stage 1:
A stage one (I) lung cancer is a small tumor that has not spread to any lymph nodes, making it possible for a surgeon to completely remove it. Stage I is divided into two substages: stage IA or stage IB, based on the size of the tumor. Smaller tumors, such as those less than 3 centimeters (cm) wide are stage IA, and slightly larger ones, such as those more than 3 cm but less than 5 cm wide, are stage IB.