The truth and how to prevent cancer


Lung Cancer: The Bad and the Worse

In terms of deaths caused by various· Stage 1A or 1B with no lymph node
forms of cancer, lung cancer ranksinvolvement has a five-year survival
second only to breast cancer. Therate of 43 to 64 percent when treated
National Cancer Institute recentlywith surgery.
reported that an estimated 172,570 new· Stage IIA or IIB with a single lymph
cases of lung cancer will be reportednode involvement, when treated with
this year and that 163,510 American willsurgery, has a five-year survival rate
die from this disease.of 20 to 40 percent.
Lung cancer is caused predominantly by· Stage IIIA with a single lymph node
smoking. One expert says that in theinvolvement in the center of the chest,
case of Small Cell Lung Carcinomawhen treated with surgery has a
(cancer), it is almost always caused byfive-year survival rate of 15 to 25
smoking.percent.
Lung cancer is called lung cancer· Stage IIIB with lymph node
because it begins in the lungs. Theinvolvement in the chest and neck, when
right lung has three sections, the lefttreated with radiation without other
lung has two. Each section is called atreatment, has a five-year survival rate
lobe. Sometimes the term "bronchogenicof five to seven percent.
cancer" is used to refer to lung cancer· Stage IIIB with lymph node
as most lung cancers begin in one of theinvolvement in the chest and neck, when
two breathing tubes, the bronchi, in thetreated with radiation and chemotherapy,
lungs.has a five-year survival rate between
There are two major types of lungseven and 17 percent.
cancer. One is the Small Cell Lung· Stage IV with extensive lymph node
Cancer (SCLC) mentioned in the previousinvolvement or cancer that has spread to
paragraph. The other is Non-Small Cellother organs, hen treated with
Lung Cancer (NSCLC).chemotherapy and palliative care to
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer has threereduce symptoms and increase comfort has
subtypes: Adenocarcinoma, Squamous Cella one-year survival rate.
Carcinoma and Large CellThe prognosis is much bleaker for
Undifferentiated Carcinoma. NSCLC is thepatients with Small Cell Lung Cancer.
least "serious" of the two types. InThis form of cancer is found in two
fact, if it is detected early, it isstages: limited or extensive. The
possible that it can be cured withlimited version is that which is found
surgery.in only one lung and nearby lymph nodes.
Andenocarcinoma accounts for about 40The extensive type has spread outside
percent of lung cancer cases in the U.S.the lung to other parts of the chest or
It is the most common cancer among womenbody (metastasized). Limited SCLC when
and can be seen in non-smokers. Squamoustreated with chemotherapy and radiation
Cell Carcinoma represents about 30 to 35therapy has an average survival time of
percent of lung cancers and tends to18 to 20 months. The extensive form of
stay localized in the chest longer thanSCLC when treated with chemotherapy has
other types of lung cancer. Large Cella survival time of 10 to 12 months.
Undifferentiated Carcinoma representsTtwo-year survival rate is one to three
only about five to 15 percent of lungpercent, and the five-year survival rate
cancers in the U.S. The incidence ofless than two percent.
this type of cancer seems to beThe majority of people diagnosed with
decreasing.SCLC will die despite the best available
The worst and most aggressive form oftreatment.
lung cancer is Small Cell Lung Cancer.While surgery plays the most important
It represents only about 15 to 20part in the treatment of Non-Small Cell
percent of all lung cancers. It spreadsLung Cancer, chemotherapy is always the
to the lymph nodes and other organs morechosen treatment for Small Cell Lung
quickly than NSCLC, but seems moreCancer. In the case of limited stage
responsive to chemotherapy drugs.SCLC, radiation therapy may also be used
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is describedas the cancer is still localized to the
in stages - Stage I through IV. WebMDchest area where radiation can be
recently reports survival rates of NSCLCfocused.
as:



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