There are two major types of lung cancer: Non-small cell and Small Cell. Both are hideous, but small cell is the rarer and deadlier of the two. The treatments are totally different and if you or your loved one has non-small cell then you need to go to American Cancer Society that explains non-small cell lung cancer. The description here is only for small cell cancer.
Most of the time when small cell cancer is discovered it already has spread to other organs, most likely the brain.
Small Cell Lung Cancer is called "small cell" because the cancer cells are tiny. That permits them to travel faster through the blood stream. It is so small that millions of those small cell cancer cells could fit on a tip of a needle.
Be aware that X-rays DO NOT catch early stages of small cell lung cancer. We strongly recommend that you have a cat scan, a pet scan or an MRI periodically to protect yourself. Most HMOs and other plans will push X-rays which are worthless against small cell cancer. Please remember that we do not dispense medical advice which can only be given by your doctor. But INSIST on something more than X-rays if you had headaches for weeks, if you smoke and had pneumonia, if you have occassional trouble typing or you lose your balance..
When small cell cancer starts in the lungs it is in the limited stage. Most likely it will start spreading to other parts of the body through a process called metastasis and it becomes advanced stage. That is when most small cell cancers caught...however that may already be too late. So you want to catch it while the small cell cancer is still in the lungs. Cannot underempasize that X-rays will not catch that terrorist within so you must insist on a Cat scan or Pet scan.
Around 10% of all lung cancers is small cell lung cancer (SCLC or oat cell carcinoma). This cancer is caused by smoking in most of the cases or by being exposed to second hand smoke or asbestos.
This small cell cancer spreads pretty fast to other organs, such as the brain, liver, spine, bones where it can form tumors or spread through the entire structure. Fighting this type of cancer requires a variety of attack plans, from chemotherapy, radiation, drugs. In most cases a combination is used and unfortunately the prognosis for small cell cancer patients is not good. Catch it early befoer it spreads.
More on Small Cell Lung Cancer from City of Hope
More from National Cancer Institute on Small Cell Lung Cancer
