Lung Cancer Types and Treatment
Cancer, a malicious disease, can be roughly defined as a class of diseases which involve abnormal cell growth and replication with the overwhelming potential to spread and affect other parts of the body. Cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths in the modern world and, the World needs to become aware about what cancer is and its causes. This article serves to educate, about lung cancer, its types and treatment.
Lung cancer or lung carcinoma as it is medically termed is caused by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. 85% of lung cancer can be attributed to tobacco smoking with the rest 15% being non-smokers affected by a combination of genetic factors and exposure to radon gas, asbestos, second hand smoke or other forms of pollution. Lung cancers are mostly seen on CT scans and chest radiographs, with confirmation by biopsy, using bronchoscopy or CT-guidance. Lung carcinoma is mainly classified into two types,
- Small cell lung Carcinoma (SCLC)
- Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC)
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (SCLC):
Small cell carcinoma is a highly malignant cancer that has a shorter doubling time, higher growth fraction, and earlier development of metastases. Statistically, 15% of all Lung cancer cases are diagnosed to be Small cell lung Carcinoma with prolonged smoking being the primary risk factor. There are two main types of SCLCs,
- Small cell carcinoma or (oat cell carcinoma),
- And combined small cell carcinoma.
Small cell lung carcinoma common symptoms include cough, dyspnea, weight loss and debility.
Treatment of Small cell lung Carcinoma:
Small-cell lung carcinoma is divided into two clinicopathological stages, including limited stage (LS) and extensive stage (ES). If the tumor is confined to one lung and the lymph nodes close to that lung, the cancer is said to be LS. If the cancer has spread beyond that, it is said to be ES. This type of lung cancer is very responsive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, most people with the disease relapse and survival rates remain low. Median survival of patients with LS disease is estimated to be 14-20 months with treatment and ES disease patients having 8-13 months with treatment.
Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC):
Non Small cell lung carcinoma refers to any other type of epithelial lung cancer other than SCLCs, accounting for 85% of all lung cancer cases. Although administered with pre-operative and post-operative chemotherapy, NSCLCs are primarily treated by surgical resection with intent to cure, due to NSCLCs being found relatively insensitive to Chemotherapy. Common types of NSCLCs include squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma.
Treatment of Non small cell lung Carcinoma:
Treatment for Non small cell lung Carcinoma is done based on staging results or depending on how developed the cancer is.
- Stage 1 NSCLCs is uncommon and treatment options include a lobectomy, pneumonectomy or targeted radiotherapy incase an operation cannot be performed due to other health reasons.
- Stage 2 NSCLCs are primarily operated on, including performing a lobectomy, pneumonectomy, radiotherapy incase of the existence of other health complications and finally chemotherapy for prevention of a relapse.
- Stage 3 NSCLCs being an advanced stage is treated with pneumonectomy of the affected lung and chemotherapy or radiotherapy afterwards as the cancer cell condition demands.
- Stage 4 NSCLCs is treated using chemotherapy to control the cancer for as long as possible and to shrink the tumor down to reduce symptoms.