Why is it called non-small cell lung cancer?
The term non-small cell lung cancer is used to classify different categories of lung cancer and was used initially to describe how cancer cells look under a microscope.
There are two primary types of lung cancer, known as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). In a person with small cell cancer, the cancerous cells appear small and round under a microscope. The cells of non-small cell lung cancer are larger. NSCLC refers to any type of lung cancer that isn’t SCLC and the most common types of NSCLC are squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma.
85% of all lung cancers are NSCLC. Although this form of lung cancer progresses more slowly than SCLC, 40% of NSCLCs will have spread beyond the lungs by the time it is diagnosed. The most prevalent risk factor for NSCLC is smoking.
References
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment. 2021. Yale Medicine. https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/non-small-cell-lung-cancer
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Doxorubicin is considered one of the strongest chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer ever invented. It can kill cancer cells at every point in their life cycle, and it's used to treat a wide variety of cancers, not just breast cancer. Doxorubicin is also known as “The Red Devil” because it is a clear bright red color. It can cause your urine or other body fluids to turn a reddish color for 1 to 2 days after a dose is given, which is normal and temporary. Continue reading
Is small cell or non-small cell lung cancer worse?
Generally, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is worse than non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SCLC accounts for about 10-15% of people who have lung cancer and is the most aggressive form of lung cancer. SCLC usually starts in the breathing tubes (bronchi), and although the cells are small, they grow very quickly and create large tumors. Early on in the course of the disease, there are rarely any symptoms. If caught early (limited-stage disease) 20-25% of people can be potentially cured. Extensive SCLC is more difficult to treat. Continue reading
Is non-small cell lung cancer hereditary?
A hereditary family history of lung cancer is one of the many risk factors for developing non-small cell lung cancer. About 8% of lung cancers are thought to be inherited or linked to gene changes, but smoking and air pollution remain the primary causes of lung cancer. Continue reading
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