Lung Cancer

2006-04-19T18:55:00.000-07:00

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a disease that begins in the cells of the lungs. The lungs are a pair of sponge-like, cone shaped organs that are part of the respiratory system. The right lung has 3 sections, and the left lung has 2 sections. Each section is called a lobe. You may hear the term “bronchogenic cancer” used to refer to lung cancer. This is because most lung cancers begin in the cells of one of the breathing tubes (the bronchi) in the lungs.

There are several types of lung cancer. Learning about your particular type can help you talk with your doctor and other health care providers and make decisions about your treatment. The more informed you are, the more informed your questions and decisions will be.

Types of Lung Cancer

There are 2 main categories of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Of people diagnosed in the United States with lung cancer, 75% to 80% have non-small cell lung cancer, making it the most common type of lung cancer. Only 15% to 20% of people diagnosed with lung cancer have small cell lung cancer.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

There are 3 major subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer based on the appearance of their cells under the microscope:

* Adenocarcinoma

* Squamous cell carcinoma (formerly called epidermoid carcinoma)

* Large cell undifferentiated carcinoma

Cure for NSCLC may be possible with surgery, if detected at an early stage. The following is a brief summary of the characteristics of each of the types of NSCLC:

Lung Cancer