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Alternative names Return to top
Cancer - lung - non-small cell; Non-small cell lung cancerDefinition Return to top
Lung cancer is a malignant tumor of the lungs. There are many types of lung cancer, but most can be categorized into two basic types, "small cell" and "non-small cell." Small cell lung cancer is generally faster growing than non-small cell, but more likely to respond to chemotherapy.
There are several different subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer -- adenocarcioma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. However, the outlook is similar for these subtypes and they are treated the same.
Non-small cell cancer is divided into four stages, I-IV.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top
Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the United States. Over 150,000 people die in the U.S. every year from lung cancer.
Most lung cancers are caused by cigarette smoking. The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the earlier you started smoking, the greater the risk of lung cancer.
Second-hand smoke has also been shown to increase risk. Government surveys show that as many as 3,000 people each year develop lung cancer from second-hand smoke. High levels of pollution, radiation, and asbestos exposure may also increase risk.
Lung cancer begins in cells that line the airways and usually invades adjacent tissues or other organs before symptoms are noticed.
Symptoms Return to top
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:
Signs and tests Return to top
When listening to the chest with a stethoscope, the doctor can sometimes detect fluid that has collected around the lungs from a cancer.
Tests that may be performed include:
This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:
Treatment Return to top
The treatment depends upon the stage of the cancer. Most patients with stage I and II non-small cell tumors, and some patients with stage III tumors, can undergo surgery with the goal of being cured. Stage IV means the cancer has spread to other sites in the body (most often bone, brain, or liver) and is, in most cases, not curable.
Support Groups Return to top
For additional information and resources, see cancer support group.
Expectations (prognosis) Return to top
For non-small cell cancer, cure rates are related to the stage of disease and whether surgery is feasible.
Complications Return to top
Prevention Return to top
If you smoke, stop smoking. Try to avoid second-hand smoke.
There is no conclusive evidence that screening for lung cancer with chest X-rays or CAT scans is beneficial for patients at high risk of developing non-small cell lung cancer. However, some recent studies have suggested that specialized CT scans called "spiral CAT scans" may help improve cure rates by detecting lung cancer at an earlier stage. This is still under investigation, and such screening is not considered the standard of care.
Update Date: 6/8/2003 Updated by: Robert J. Green, M.D., M.S.C.E., Division of Oncology, Good Samaritan Medical Center, West Palm Beach, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |