Sharmila Tagore lung cancer: What is zero-stage lung cancer, and how is it detected?

Sharmila Tagore lung cancer: What is Zero-stage lung cancer, and how is it detected?


Sharmila Tagore’s cancer journey: What is zero-stage lung cancer and why it’s rarely caught so early


When cancer is caught early: The truth about Sharmila Tagore’s stage zero lung cancer


Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore revealed something deeply personal - she had fought cancer. The news came as a surprise to many, not just because of the revelation, but because her treatment had been so minimal. Her daughter, Soha Ali Khan, shared that the cancer was detected at stage zero - a stage so early that not many people even realize such a phase exists. Soha mentioned that her mother did not need chemotherapy, and the cancer was surgically removed.


This opens up an important conversation about zero-stage lung cancer: What it is, how rare early detection can be, and what treatment typically looks like.


What exactly is zero-stage lung cancer?

Zero-stage lung cancer, also called Stage 0 NSCLC (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) or carcinoma in situ, is the earliest form of lung cancer. At this point, the abnormal cells are found only in the top lining of the lung or in the airways and have not spread deeper into the lung tissue or to other parts of the body.



Doctors describe this as a "pre-cancer" stage. The cells show signs of becoming cancerous but haven’t invaded nearby tissues yet. In most cases, people at this stage don’t feel sick, and there are no symptoms. That’s what makes it so tricky and rare to catch.


How rare is it to catch lung cancer at stage zero?

Lung cancer is usually diagnosed at later stages, after symptoms like coughing, chest pain, or fatigue appear. Stage zero lung cancer is usually found accidentally, maybe during a routine scan or while checking for another issue.



In Sharmila Tagore’s case, her daughter revealed it was discovered early and did not need chemotherapy. This is significant. Most lung cancer cases are caught at stage 3 or 4, when treatment becomes more complex and the survival rate drops. That’s why Sharmila’s case stands out.


How is zero-stage lung cancer detected?

Since there are no visible symptoms, detection usually happens through a low-dose CT scan (LDCT), used in high-risk individuals such as long-term smokers or people with a family history of lung disease. In India, such screening is not as widely used for routine checks, which makes early detection even less common.


Some studies suggest that regular scans for high-risk groups could reduce lung cancer deaths by up to 20%. However, there's still limited awareness, and not many people undergo preventive scans unless there's a strong medical reason.

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What happens after a stage zero diagnosis?

When lung cancer is caught at this early stage, treatment is usually straightforward. In many cases, surgical removal of the abnormal cells or a small section of the lung is all that’s needed.


No chemotherapy, no radiation, and no long-term medication. Once removed, patients are generally placed under regular monitoring to make sure the cells don’t return. That’s exactly what Soha mentioned about her mother’s journey—it was caught early, removed, and now she is doing well.