LUNG CANCER – THE TYPES
By Antin. Based upon the microscopic appearance of the cancer cells, lung cancers are classified into two types: small cell lung cancers (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). These two types of lung cancers grow and spread in different ways, so a distinction between these two types is important.
SCLC (Small Cell Lung Cancers) SCLC comprise about 20% of lung cancers. This type of lung cancer is the most aggressive and rapidly growing of all lung cancers. SCLC are strongly related to cigarette smoking, with only 1% of these lung cancer occurring in nonsmokers. SCLC metastasize rapidly to other sites of the body and are most often discovered after the lung cancer has spread extensively. The other name of SCLC is oat cell carcinoma. This name refers to a specific cell type often seen in SCLC.
NSCLC (Non Small Cell Lung Cancer) NSCLC is the most common lung cancer. About 80% of all lung cancer are NSCLC. These types of lung cancer are divided to three main types according to the type of cells found in the lung cancer.
· Adenocarcinomas About 50% of NSCLC in the U.S. are adenocarcinomas. This lung cancer is arising in the outer areas of the lungs.
· Squamous cell carcinomas They account for about 30% of NSCLC. The other name of this lung cancer is epidermoid Carcinomas. It arises most frequently in the central chest area, in the bronchi.
· Large cell carcinomas Sometimes called undifferentiated carcinomas.
- Mixtures of different types of NSCLC are also seen.
Besides SCLC and NSCLC, there are some other types of lung cancer. These types of lung cancer are much less common, and comprise only 5%-10% of lung cancers.
· Bronchial carcinoids This type of lung cancer is small (3-4 cm or less) when diagnosed. It occurs most commonly in people under 40 years old. This lung cancer generally grows and spreads more slowly than bronchogenic cancer. Many of these lung cancers are detected early enough to cure by surgical treatment.
· Cancer of Supporting Lung Tissue These lung cancer can rarely occur from smooth muscle, blood vessels, or cells involved in the immune response
August 5th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
[...] recurring bronchitis or pneumonia, fatigue and shortness of breath are other early symptoms of lung cancer. No matter what the symptoms are, if you have lung cancer, they will gradually progress in [...]
August 5th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
[...] Smoking is one of the greatest risk factor of lung cancer. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. The risk of developing lung cancer increases with the number of years they have smoked. The longer they have been smoking, the higher is their risk of developing lung cancer. But cigarette smoking is not the only cause. The risk of lung cancer is also increased for passive smokers who are exposed to tobacco smoke indirectly. Exposure to carcinogens like arsenic, asbestos, chloromethyl ether, radon gas and chromium compounds are another cause of lung cancer. [...]