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Lung Cancer Types

Lung cancer cases typically fall into one of two categories: small cell lung cancer or non-small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer forms in lung tissues, while small cell lung cancer typically grows in the breathing tubes. Both small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer can be caused by asbestos exposure.

While treatments for small cell lung cancer tend to be more aggressive in response to its quicker growth rate, the various types of lung cancer are often treated with the same methods, including radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery. To learn more about these treatment options, fill out this form to have an informational packet about sent to you overnight. In addition to treatment options, the packet also discusses doctors familiar with treating lung diseases.

All types of lung cancer can be caused by asbestos , smoking and other carcinogens, but no type is exclusively linked to asbestos exposure. Additionally, asbestos causes less lung cancer cases overall, but the proportion of small cell and non-small cell cases are very similar.

One study revealed that the risk for all types of lung cancer was significantly increased in men who had developed asbestosis , another lung disease caused exclusively by prolonged exposure to asbestos. Although the risk for adenocarcinoma and small cell carcinoma were slightly higher than the risk for squamous cell carcinoma in this study, the risk of developing all types of lung cancer was elevated in the asbestos-exposed patients.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Approximately 80 percent of lung cancer cases are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The three types of non-small cell lung cancer typically grow more slowly than small cell lung cancer, with symptoms developing gradually over time. Of the three, large cell carcinomas have been found to grow more quickly than the other types, but symptoms still arise gradually.

Non-small cell lung cancer patients may experience chest pain, shortness of breath and a cough that progressively intensifies as the disease develops. NSCLC may also be accompanied by syndromes that are also considered to be symptoms of the disease, such as hypercalcemia and Ectopic Cushing Syndrome.

Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma is the most common of all types of lung cancer (including cases from asbestos and all other causes). This subtype of non-small cell lung cancer is often found in the outer section of the lung. Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, a form of adenocarcinoma, can originate in the alveoli, or the air flaps, making it harder to detect on imaging scans. Adenocarcinoma is particularly responsive to anti-epidermal growth factor drugs.

Squamous

Squamous is another subtype of non-small cell lung cancer and is the second-most common form. Squamous cell carcinomas tend to appear in the center of the lung in or near the air tubes, known as bronchi. The cancerous cells are thin and flat. These tumors produce high levels of a hormone-related protein that leads to hypercalcemia.

Large Cell

Large cell carcinoma is responsible for a low percentage of lung cancers. Less than 15 percent of lung cancer cases are diagnosed as large cell, and the tumors can be easily confused with a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma or a squamous cell carcinoma. The cells that make up these tissue masses are large and abnormally shaped.

Non-small cell lung cancer patients may be eligible for a wide variety of therapies, including surgery to remove tumors that have not spread past the lymph nodes. Once the tumors have been removed, chemotherapy or radiation therapy is often administered to kill any remaining cells. When surgery is not an option, patients may undergo radiation therapy to treat the cancer or relieve its symptoms.

Because non-small cell lung cancer spreads slower than small cell, the prognosis is typically better for non-small cell lung cancer patients. Stage I and Stage II are typically responsive to treatment, although prognosis does drop in the later stages as the cancer spreads to areas such as the small intestine or the brain.

Learn More about Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small Cell Lung Cancer

There are three forms of small cell lung cancers: small cell carcinoma (also called oat cell cancer and the most prevalent), mixed small cell / large cell carcinoma and combined small cell carcinoma.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) typically develops in the bronchi inside the chest, but these cancerous cells can quickly spread to other parts of the body. If SCLC spreads outside of the chest area, it is classified as extensive, while SCLC that remains within the chest is referred to as limited stage. As SCLC tumors grow, they can cause chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite and consistent coughing.

Because small cell lung cancer spreads so quickly, therapies must address both the original tumor and the tumors that have spread across the body. Surgery is rarely an option for SCLC patients because the cancer is typically too widespread at the time of diagnosis to be effectively removed. Etopside, cisplatin and carboplatin are commonly prescribed chemotherapy drugs for small cell lung cancer. Many patients receive radiation therapy alongside chemotherapy.

Because of how rapidly small cell lung cancer spreads, the prognosis is often under a year. Treatment can typically extend a patient's life for up to 12 months, but only 6 percent of patients achieve five- year survival.  Patients whose cancer has not drastically spread across the body tend to have a better prognosis.

Learn More about Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

If you would like to learn more about the types of lung cancer, how they are treated, or how asbestos exposure may have played a role, fill out the form on this page to receive a free informational packet that is tailored to your diagnosis.