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Types of Cancer - Lung Cancer

Lung cancer occurs when cells in the lungs begin to divide abnormally, forming a tumor. Most lung cancers originate in the lining of the bronchi, although they are also known to begin in the trachea, alveoli, or bronchioles.

Types of Cancer

What is Lung Cancer?

The lungs are a pair of sponge-like, cone-shaped organs found in the chest cavity. The right lung has three lobes or sections; it is a little larger than the left lung, which has two lobes. The lungs are a major part of the respiratory system and bring air in and out of the body, taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide gas.

People with lung cancer may experience a variety of symptoms including a cough that worsens and doesn't go away, constant chest pain, coughing up of blood, shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness, repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis, swelling of the neck and face, loss of appetite or weight loss, and fatigue. While there is no direct and single cause of lung cancer, it is known that smoking or tobacco smoke greatly increases the odds of developing lung cancer, and one of the best preventative measures that a person can take against lung cancer is to quit smoking.

Types of Lung Cancer

Lung cancers are divided into two major categories: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer, according to how the cells look under a microscope. Non-small cell lung cancer occurs more frequently than small cell lung cancer, and it usually grows and spreads at a slower rate. Non-small cell lung cancer is categorized according to the type of cells in which the cancer develops: squamous cell carcinoma (also called epidermoid carcinoma), adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. Small cell lung cancer, also known as oat cell cancer, is less common than non-small cell lung cancer; however, it also tends to grow and spread more quickly.

Treatment

Treatment for lung cancer is dependent upon many factors, including the type of lung cancer (non-small or small cell lung cancer), the size, location, and extent of the tumor, and the patient's general state of health. Often more than one treatment or combination of treatments is needed to control the cancer and/or reduce its symptoms. One treatment option is surgery to remove the cancer; there are several types of surgical procedures for lung cancer. One, called a segmental or wedge resection, removes only a small part of the lung. A lobectomy involves the removal of an entire lobe of the lung, and a pneumonectomy means that the entire lung is removed.

Besides surgery, a patient may be treated using chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body (chemo=drug), and it may be used to control cancer growth or to relieve its symptoms. Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and may be used prior to surgery to shrink a tumor, or after surgery to kill any unremoved cancer. Like chemotherapy, it can also be used to relieve cancer symptoms.

Another therapy which may be used in the treatment of lung cancer is photodynamic therapy (PDT), a type of laser therapy in which a special chemical is injected into the bloodstream and absorbed by cells throughout the body. While the chemical rapidly leaves normal cells, it remains in cancer cells for a longer period of time. During this time, a laser light is aimed at the cancer to activate the chemical, which then kills the cancer cells that have absorbed it.

Many patients and their families want to learn all they can about lung cancer and the treatment choices so they can take an active part in decisions about medical care. The doctor is the best person to answer these questions. When discussing treatment, the patient (or, in the case of a child, the patient's family) may want to talk with the doctor about research studies of new treatment methods. Such studies, called clinical trials, are designed to improve cancer treatment. More information about clinical trials is in the Clinical Trials section.

Researchers are finding better ways to treat lung cancer, and the chances of recovery keep improving. Still, it is natural for patients and their families to be concerned about the future. There are many resources available both on and off the web for patients and their families. Links to some good web sites can be found on our web resources page, or check out our recommended reading list for patients and their families.

Source: NCI Cancernet