Types of Lung Cancer – Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer [NSCLC] and Small-Cell Lung Cancer [SCLC] :

Types of Lung Cancer

This page tells you about types of lung cancer.  There are important differences between lung cancer that started in the lungs and lung cancer that has spread to the lung from another part of the body. 

Primary lung cancer (cancer that has started in the lungs) 

Secondary lung cancer (cancer that has spread to the lungs)

There are several different types of primary lung cancer. These are divided into two main types

1) Primary lung cancer

2) Secondary lung cancer

Secondary cancer is cancer that spread from somewhere else in the body. There are few different cancers that can spread to the lungs, including breast cancer and bowel cancer.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Non-small cell lung cancer is one of the types of lung cancer disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the lung.

Previously, if you are having the habit of smoking, passive smoking or radon exposure, then there is a possibility of occurring Non-small cell lung cancer.

Depending on the type of cells found in the cancer, there are three main kinds of non-small cell lung cancer: squamous cell carcinoma (also called epidermoid carcinoma), adenocarcinoma, large cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, and undifferentiated carcinoma.

Since non-small cell lung cancer is a common disease, it is usually treated by surgery (taking out the cancer in an operation) or radiation therapy (using high-dose x-rays to kill cancer cells). However, in some patients chemotherapy may be used.

The choice of treatment and chance of recovery depend on the stage of the cancer (whether it is confined to the lung or has spread to other places), tumor size, the type of lung cancer, whether there are symptoms, and the patient’s common health.

 Non-Small Lung Cancer Stages

Staging: Once lung cancer has been found, more tests will be conducted to find out whether the cancer has spread from the lung to further parts of the body. This is called Staging.

In order to plan the treatment, a doctor needs to know the stage. The stages used for non-small cell lung caner are:

Occult Stage

 At this stage, cancer cells are found in sputum, but no tumor can be detected in the lung. Surgery is the only method to cure this of Lung Cancer if found.

Stage 0

 Another term for this type of lung cancer is carcinoma in situ. In a local area of the lung, cancer is only found in a few layers of cells. It hasn't so far grown through the top lining of the lung and treatment may well be surgery or photodynamic therapy.

Stage I

The cancer is confined only to the lung and is surrounded by normally tissue.

Stage II

 Cancer has spread to incorporate the nearby lymph nodes. Treatment may consist if surgery to remove the tumor and lymph nodes, radiation therapy, surgery and/or radiation therapy, with or without chemotherapy.

Stage III

Near to the lung, cancer has spread to the chest wall or diaphragm; or the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the area that separates the two lungs (mediastinum); or to the lymph nodes on the other side of the chest or in the neck.

Additionally, Stage III is further classified into stage IIIA (usually can be operated on) and stage IIIB (usually cannot be operated on).

Stage IV

Other parts of the body have been spread with cancer.

Recurrent

After previous treatment, cancer has been recurred.

Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small cell lung cancer is one of the types of lung cancer which can also be called as oat cell cancer . Small cell lung cancer is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the tissues of the lungs. Inside the chest, lungs take up much of the room inside and usually are a pair of cone-shaped organs.

When comparing with non-small cell lung cancer, the small cell lung cancer is less common. The typical characteristic of this type of cancer is that it grows more rapidly and is more likely to spread to other organs of your body.

Starting with any one of the larger breathing tubes, small cell lung cancer grows quickly and at the time of diagnosis attains larger size.

Most common cause of lung cancer is Cigarette smoking. Small cell lung cancer risk factors include

Other scientific study of cause of small cell lung cancer includes occupational hazards- exposure to cancer-causing agents (Mesothelioma) and personal or family history of lung cancer. Hence the doctors recommend avoiding smoking and exposure to hazardous chemicals

These and other symptoms may be caused by small cell lung cancer or by other conditions. If any of the following problems occur, then a doctor should be consulted:

By using CT scans, MRIs, and X-rays, the small cell lung cancer can easily be diagnosed. To identify the place of tumor in the lungs, these diagnoses can easily be obtained.

The location, size and shape of the tumor can easily be detected by using these diagnostic methods. When compared to other diagnostic procedures, even sometimes lung biopsy and sputum cytology are more helpful.

There are three types of small cell lung cancer.

These three types comprise many different types of cells. The cancer cells of each type grow and spread in different ways. Depending on the kinds of cells found in the cancer and the on the visibility of the cells when seen under a microscope, the types of small cell lung cancer are named:

Depending on the stage of the cancer (whether it is just in the lung or has spread to other places) and the patient's gender and general state of health, the prognosis and choice of treatment will depend.

Stages of small cell lung cancer

To check whether the cancer cells spread from one or both lungs to other parts of the body (staging), more tests will be done, once small cell lung cancer has been found. In order to plan the treatment, a doctor needs to know the stage of the disease. The stages used for the small lung cancer are as follows.

Limited stage of small cell lung cancer

Only in one lung and in nearby lymph nodes, Cancer is found. (The small bean-shaped structures that are found throughout the body are called Lymph nodes. They produce and store infection-fighting cells.)

Even if you are suffering from limited stage of small cell lung cancer, chemotherapy is suggested by most of the physicians.

In case if your lung consists of single nodule without any other evidence of cancer elsewhere, followed by chemotherapy your physician prefers to go for surgery.

The commonly used combination of drugs is carboplatin or cisplatin combined with etoposide, continued for 6 months. There are some evident that paclitaxel or topotecan addition with this combination increases the survival rate.

Extensive stage of small cell lung cancer

Cancer has spread outside of the lung where it began to other tissues in the chest or to other parts of the body.

In the extensive stage of small cell lung cancer, using the chemotherapy alone can ease the symptoms. The drug combination Cisplatin or carboplatin along with etoposide is the most preferred therapy. In addition to this medicines, which improve the blood cell count, may also be included for better results.

Recurrent stage of small cell lung cancer

Recurrent disease means that after the completion of the treatment, it will come back (recurred). Either in the lungs or in another part of the body, it may come back.

Squamous Cell Lung Cancer

Squamous cell lung cancer is one of the pulmonary neoplasms that are not kind and hence, always-additional clinical importance is being given whenever a patient affected with this type of pulmonary neoplasm is presented to the thoracic specialist or the oncologist.

It is to be understood that squamous cell lung cancer is epithelial in origin. As for the development is concerned, this type of neoplasm bears no limitations in the growth or spread within the different lobes of lungs.

Squamous cell lung cancer often bears the etiological factors like smoking of cigarettes or cigar either by the patient or being in the smoking room routinely.

However, the sign and symptom of this type of lung cancer are almost similar to any type of a severe pulmonary neoplasm and invariably signs like coughing with blood materials in the coughed up material, difficulty in breathing which is termed as Dyspnea in medical term and weight loss.

Since this squamous cell lung cancer is being considered as destructive neoplasm in lungs, additional care is paid towards incorporating the effective supportive therapy in the regular anti cancerous therapy, involving multi drug combinations. The supportive therapy may include usage of appropriate corticosteroid drugs like prednisolone in a routine form and it is remarkable to mention that in some patients, a repository form of this corticosteroid may also be used to accomplish the need of constant delivery.

In cases of squamous cell lung cancer, surgery is also being considered as a therapy. But, it becomes impossible if the spread of this is over a wide area.

The squamous cell lung cancer in many patients tends to extend to other tissues including kidney or bone. Suppose, if it spreads to bones, most of the times, mandible or skull may get affected and in such cases increased density with occurrence of periosteal new bones may be noticed.

Squamous cell lung cancer at times need authorization from few more pathologists who are specialized in such diagnosis and however, the clinical effects seen in one patient affected by this type of lung caner may not get reflected in other patients and the factors like target organ of caner cells, extent of compromise by the immune status of the patient, effect of medications including alternate drug therapy which may even include margins in multiple diets in order to avoid regular exposure to the carcinogens that have some association with food components etc.

All these indicate the numerous factors are associated with the production of this type of lung cancer and hence, one has to know on a lot of updated technical information on various pathogenesis and factors associated with display of signs and symptoms of lung cancer involving squamous cells.

In cases of squamous cell lung cancer, radioactive implants have been used as one of the treatment measure. In all these cases, attempt is being made effectively to place the radioactive implants following the surgical procedure and these surgically placed implants have capabilities to release constant waves of radiation.

However, it is to be understood that the spread of the squamous cell lung cancer is very quick and hence, the treatment may not give 100 per cent guarantee on the recovery of the affected patient from this type of pulmonary neoplasm.

Adenocarcinoma Lung Cancer

Adenocarcinoma lung cancer is considered as one of the complicated type of lung cancer because of the wide presence in various pulmonary regions, thereby affecting various inevitable functions of lungs.

Any type of tumor is given some clinical emphasis mainly because of type and its pathogenic effects it leads in the concerned patient.

The adenocarcinoma lung cancer is always given more significance in this manner and so as to make apparent recovery in the patient needs vigorous clinical approach.

The experienced medical experts in the field of oncology indicates this adenocarcinoma lung cancer as a metastatic tumor and this explains the fact that additional clinical work up is required in such patients to determine the origin of this cancer problem in pulmonary regions, although cancerous cells are encountered in such patients.

Hence, as a matter of fact, routinely, in addition to the general investigation on other organs, the status of organs like uterus or ovary, if it is a female patient and thyroid will be particularly assessed.

It is to be understood that in patients revealing adenocarcinoma lung cancer, most of the neoplasm’s of pulmonary regions, as in case of adenocarcinoma reflect the problematic metastatic processes and thus, the clinical approach comprising of chemotherapy, supportive therapy, radiation therapy etc. is observed as complicated one.

Further, it is too noteworthy to mention that the cases of adenocarcinoma lung cancer are grouped under pulmonary neoplasm’s that have epithelial origin, unlike hemangioma etc. This adenocarcinoma is always considered as malignant type of pulmonary neoplasm.

Symptoms of adenocarcinoma lung cancer

Intensive signs of pain and experiencing partial breathlessness, difficulties in respiratory activity called Dyspnea which may produce cough are the symptoms revealed in patients affected with adenocarcinoma lung cancer

In spite of the therapy given for general infections, most of the times, this clinical condition will not recover. Hence, the patient should be referred to clinical oncologist to rule out conditions like this type of lung cancer, if failure is encountered during the general treatment to improve the signs of affections in respiratory system.

Since the adenocarcinoma lung cancer therapy may involve specific alternative pulmonary neoplasm treatment, the sufferer patients may have to look into the superior therapy measures that may even involve specific nutrition or laser beam based therapy.

The reduction of this type of adenocarcinoma depends on how early the specialized therapy is being started in these patients and perhaps, it may even based upon the side effects and poisonous effects of the concerned medicament and the safety of the medical practice carried out in such patients.

So as to ameliorate the increasing sings of pain etc., both patient and the doctor will be taking extreme measures. In all these medical practices, the various web-based resources have to be carefully followed up.

The chemotherapy delivered to the patient suffering with adenocarcinoma lung cancer often involves a grouping of multiple drugs and effective supportive therapy with drugs like prednisolone, flunixin, meglumine etc.

However, one has to realize the pharmacological effects of such drugs, acting on lungs. Prior to the recommendation of any anti cancer therapy in cases of adenocarcinoma lung cancer, all these pave ways to deliver satisfactory clinical precautions to the affected patients.

Metastatic lung cancer

Metastatic lung caner is the form of cancer that has spread to the lungs from other parts of the body. In a Metastatic lung cancer, the cancer in other parts like breast, colon, prostrate, and bladder spread to the lungs through the bloodstream and form cancerous development in the lungs.

This type of cancer in the lungs is called the Metastatic lung cancer. Thus a cancer that has spread to the lungs is said to have metastasized to the lungs. Cough, bloody sputum, and shortness of breath, rib cage pain, weight loss and weakness are the symptoms of such lung cancer. To diagnose a cancer, there are different diagnose methods available.

The different methods available for diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer are Chest X-Ray, Chest CT Scan, cytology studies of pleural fluid or sputum, lung needle biopsy, surgical lung biopsy, and bronchoscopy.

Among them to detect cancer, the chest X-ray method is the most commonly performed method. The process involves taking X-rays from back to the front and also on the sides. CT scan is used for detecting Metastatic cancer.

In the brain, to find out the extent of the Metastatic cancer, a CT scan is the best tool. This reveals the presence of the Metastatic cancer in the brain. Using the CT scan other areas like liver and adrenal glands can also be scanned. In some cases the lung cancer would have metastasized to the bones.

In such cases a Bone scan is done to determine that. The procedure for bone scan involves injection of radioactive material to the bloodstream. This radioactive material collects in the bones in the areas where Metastatic tumors are present.

The image is recorded by the scanner on detecting these radioactive materials. If an excessive level of calcium or alkaline phosphatase is found, a blood test may also disclose the presence of Metastatic cancer in the bones.

Similarly an increase level of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase indicates the presence of Metastatic cancer in the liver.

Breast cancer can metastasize to other tissues like heart and other thoracic organs including the lung tissues. Similarly, the cancerous cells may spread from colon to lungs, thus causing metastasis in different pulmonary areas.

It is to be emphasized that currently, incidence of colon cancer is found to be more caused by the multiple etiological factors like usage of various kinds of fertilizers, pesticides etc. in the paddy field and field of grains. Hence, metastatic lung cancer is to be viewed from various clinical angles.

The clinical signs may vary depending on the degree of lung involvement and the reactions of the pulmonary areas to the modifications in the cellular patterns due to the spread of cancer cells.

The respiratory system specialist perhaps attempts to rule out signs and symptoms related to both primary and secondary lung cancers in the concerned patient whenever dealing with case of metastatic lung cancer,

Using chemotherapy, the treatment for Metastatic lung cancer is usually possible. Metastatic lung cancer signifies that the cancer has spread to the bloodstream and because of this the cancer may be found in many places that are not detected by a CT scan.

Hence chemotherapy is used for treatment of such cancer. Sometime by surgery also metastases in the lungs can be removed. The brain is an important part that is affected by Metastatic cancer. Even if there is no cancer in the brain, a radiation therapy is given to the brain.

This is to prevent any Metastatic cancer to the brain. This kind of treatment to the brain is termed as prophylactic cranial irradiation. Regarding radiation therapy to your brain, consult your radiation oncologist.

However there may be side effects for this kind of exposures of the brain to the radiation. After the patient and the doctor discuss about the possible risks and complications, the decision to have a radiation therapy to the brain should be taken.

Prevention is always better than cure. Hence it is better to stop smoking and eat healthy diet with regular exercises. Try to avoid alcohol or keep it at the minimum. These might prevent some types of cancer.