Different Types Of Lung Cancer
There are different types of cells in the lung, of varying size, for the different functions of the lung. This has resulted in the classification of two main types of lung cancer:
- Cancer developing from the smaller cells in the lung is known as small-cell lung cancer.
- Other types of cancers in the lung are known as non-small-cell lung cancer.
- Some lung cancers are a mixture of both types and are generally called mixed-small-cell/large-cell cancer.
The different types of lung cancers tend to grow and spread differently and are therefore not treated in the same way.
- Non-small-cell lung cancer is the more common type, accounting for about 80% of lung cancers. It is this more common type of lung cancer that grows and spreads more slowly.
- This less common type of cancer, small-cell cancer, is the type that grows more quickly and has a greater chance of spreading to other parts of the body.
Since the more common non-small cell group of cells in the lung are themselves made up of differing kinds of cells, three distinct types of non-small cell lung cancer are recognized. They are:
- Squamous cell carcinoma, found usually in the central part of the lung.
- Adenocarcinoma, mostly occurring in the outer part of the lung.
- Undifferentiated carcinoma, which can occur anywhere in the lung.
People with adenocarcinoma have a more favorable outlook. Undifferentiated carcinoma is the least common and has the poorer prognosis.
In general, the choice of treatment and the chances of recovery from lung cancer following treatment will depend on:
- How advanced the cancer is at the time of diagnosis
- How healthy the person generally is
Need To Know:
Recognizing The Symptoms
The symptoms that may suggest lung cancer are similar to symptoms of other lung conditions that may not be as serious as lung cancer.
The main symptoms suggesting lung cancer are:
- Coughing up blood
- Coughing that does not seem to improve and gets worse with time
Other symptoms may include:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Recurrent episodes of pneumonia
- Weight loss
- Feeling tired
Weight loss and feeling tired can be symptoms of cancer in general.
Facts About Lung Cancer
- Over 80% of all lung cancers are caused directly by smoking.
- Stopping smoking can reduce the risk for developing lung cancer.
- Lung cancer is more common in men; they are 25% more likely to develop lung cancer.
- When initially diagnosed, only about 15% of lung cancers are found to still be in the early stage, while 85% have already spread locally or to more distant sites in the body.
- The five-year survival rate is approximately 50% in those cases when the cancer is still in the early stage when first diagnosed - but only 15% of lung cancers are discovered this early.
- In the USA, in 1998, there were about 171,500 new cases of lung cancer, accounting for 14% of all cancer diagnoses.
- In the USA in 1998, 28% of all cancer deaths were due to lung cancer.
- Since 1987, more women have died each year of lung cancer than breast cancer.
Revision date: July 7, 2011
Last revised: by Janet A. Staessen, MD, PhD