Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. It occurs when a malignant tumor develops within the lungs causing cell mutations. There are two main types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), non-small cell lung cancer accounts for 85 percent of lung cancers whereas small cell lung cancer accounts for 10-15 percent. Non-small cell lung cancer can be categorized into three different types: adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is the most common subtype of non-small cell lung cancer. It accounts for 30 - 35 percent of primary lung tumors. Squamous cell carcinoma occurs when abnormal lung cells multiply out of control resulting in the formation of a tumor (Harvard Health Publications). Squamous cell carcinoma is the second-most common type of non-small cell lung cancer. It accounts for approximately 30 percent of all cases of non-small cell lung cancer. Large carcinoma, on the

Non-small cell lung cancers can be treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, surgery, or a combination of these treatments. Small cell lung cancers are usually treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Surgery is performed to remove the tumor before it completely spreads to nearby lymph nodes. Chemotherapy often consists of a combination of different drugs. This type of treatment helps prevent the cancer from returning. Targeted therapy is designed to accurately target an individual tumor in order to stop the cancer from continuing to grow (Lung Cancer Alliance). Unlike chemotherapy, targeted therapy is less severe and has fewer side effects. Finally, radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells developing at a rapid