Small Cell Lung Cancer

The small cell lung cancer has three types and these types are named because of their different cell types. The cancer cells of each of these grow and multiply in different ways.

• Mixed small cell/large cell carcinoma.
• Combined small cell carcinoma.

Small cell lung cancer is also called as oat cell cancer. It is less metastatic and lethal as compared to non-small cell lung cancer. Small has the ability to spread widely throughout the body. The small cell lung cancer is being managed through different ways of treatment and that involves killing the tumor cells. As a characteristic of small cell lung carcinoma, they produce hormones of their own from their cells and this then really changes the body chemistry and causes a lot of problems in the management of the disease.
As we can understand from the name, the cells of this tumor are small and they multiply pretty quickly and from large tumor masses and then have a course of spreading to lymph nodes and other organ structures such as the bones, brain, adrenal glands, and liver. The tumor frequently starts in the bronchi from the center of the lungs.
As is being evident from the data collected, small cell lung cancer is nearly always caused by smoking and is very unusual to be seen in individuals who are not smokers.

There are three stages for small cell lung cancer. These are limited, extensive or recurrent.

Limited Stage: Cancer is found in one lung and in nearby lymph nodes.

Treatment may well be one of the following:

• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy to the upper body/chest.
• Chemotherapy with or without prophylactic cranial irradiation.
• Surgery followed by chemotherapy with or without prophylactic cranial irradiation.
• Clinical trials testing new drugs and new treatments.

Extensive Stage: Cancer has metastasised to other tissues and organs in the chest and other parts of the body.

Treatment may be one of the following:

• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy to the upper body/chest.
• Radiation therapy to places in the body where the cancer has spread.
• Clinical trials testing new drugs and new treatments.

Recurrent Stage: Recurrent cancer as it suggest by its name is a cancer that has returned. It may recur in the lungs or in any other part of the body where it had already metastasised. Treatment for recurrence can include be one of the following:

• Radiation treatment.
• Chemotherapy.
• Laser treatment, radiation therapy or surgical implant of devices to keep the airways open.
• Clinical trial testing of new drugs.

LUNG CANCER

• Introduction
• Types of Lung Cancer
• Symptoms of Lung Cancer
• Who's at risk of Lung Cancer?
• Lung Cancer Diagnosis
• Staging Lung Cancer
• Small Cell Lung Cancer
• Alternative Lung Cancer Treatment
• Chemotherapy
• Early Detection Symptoms
• Recognition Of Early Symptoms
• Early Symptoms and Diagnosis
• Endstage Lung Cancer
• Lung Cancer Prognosis
• Stage 4 Lung Cancer
• Non Small Lung Cancer
• Treatment for Lung Cancer
• Lung Cancer Medications
• Side Effects of Lung Cancer Treatments
• Lung Cancer Care
• Questions to ask the doctor
• Adenocarcinoma Lung Cancer
• Lung Cancer Research
• Mesothelioma Asbestos Lung Cancer
• Metastatic Lung Cancer
• Oat Cell Lung Cancer
• Lung Cancer - A Deadly Result Due To Smoking
• Smoking and Lung Cancer
• Squamous Cell Lung Cancer