| In terms of deaths caused by various forms of | | | | involvement has a five-year survival rate of |
| cancer, lung cancer ranks second only to | | | | 43 to 64 percent when treated with surgery. |
| breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute | | | | |
| recently reported that an estimated 172,570 | | | | · Stage IIA or IIB with a single lymph |
| new cases of lung cancer will be reported | | | | node involvement, when treated with surgery, |
| this year and that 163,510 American will die | | | | has a five-year survival rate of 20 to 40 |
| from this disease. | | | | percent. |
| | | | |
| Lung cancer is caused predominantly by | | | | · Stage IIIA with a single lymph node |
| smoking. One expert says that in the case of | | | | involvement in the center of the chest, when |
| Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (cancer), it is | | | | treated with surgery has a five-year survival |
| almost always caused by smoking. | | | | rate of 15 to 25 percent. |
| | | | |
| Lung cancer is called lung cancer because it | | | | · Stage IIIB with lymph node involvement |
| begins in the lungs. The right lung has three | | | | in the chest and neck, when treated with |
| sections, the left lung has two. Each section | | | | radiation without other treatment, has a |
| is called a lobe. Sometimes the term | | | | five-year survival rate of five to seven |
| "bronchogenic cancer" is used to refer to | | | | percent. |
| lung cancer as most lung cancers begin in one | | | | |
| of the two breathing tubes, the bronchi, in | | | | · Stage IIIB with lymph node involvement |
| the lungs. | | | | in the chest and neck, when treated with |
| | | | radiation and chemotherapy, has a five-year |
| There are two major types of lung cancer. One | | | | survival rate between seven and 17 percent. |
| is the Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) | | | | |
| mentioned in the previous paragraph. The | | | | · Stage IV with extensive lymph node |
| other is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). | | | | involvement or cancer that has spread to |
| | | | other organs, hen treated with chemotherapy |
| Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer has three | | | | and palliative care to reduce symptoms and |
| subtypes: Adenocarcinoma, Squamous Cell | | | | increase comfort has a one-year survival |
| Carcinoma and Large Cell Undifferentiated | | | | rate. |
| Carcinoma. NSCLC is the least "serious" of | | | | |
| the two types. In fact, if it is detected | | | | The prognosis is much bleaker for patients |
| early, it is possible that it can be cured | | | | with Small Cell Lung Cancer. This form of |
| with surgery. | | | | cancer is found in two stages: limited or |
| | | | extensive. The limited version is that which |
| Andenocarcinoma accounts for about 40 percent | | | | is found in only one lung and nearby lymph |
| of lung cancer cases in the U.S. It is the | | | | nodes. The extensive type has spread outside |
| most common cancer among women and can be | | | | the lung to other parts of the chest or body |
| seen in non-smokers. Squamous Cell Carcinoma | | | | (metastasized). Limited SCLC when treated |
| represents about 30 to 35 percent of lung | | | | with chemotherapy and radiation therapy has |
| cancers and tends to stay localized in the | | | | an average survival time of 18 to 20 months. |
| chest longer than other types of lung cancer. | | | | The extensive form of SCLC when treated with |
| Large Cell Undifferentiated Carcinoma | | | | chemotherapy has a survival time of 10 to 12 |
| represents only about five to 15 percent of | | | | months. Ttwo-year survival rate is one to |
| lung cancers in the U.S. The incidence of | | | | three percent, and the five-year survival |
| this type of cancer seems to be decreasing. | | | | rate less than two percent. |
| | | | |
| The worst and most aggressive form of lung | | | | The majority of people diagnosed with SCLC |
| cancer is Small Cell Lung Cancer. It | | | | will die despite the best available |
| represents only about 15 to 20 percent of all | | | | treatment. |
| lung cancers. It spreads to the lymph nodes | | | | |
| and other organs more quickly than NSCLC, but | | | | While surgery plays the most important part |
| seems more responsive to chemotherapy drugs. | | | | in the treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung |
| | | | Cancer, chemotherapy is always the chosen |
| Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is described in | | | | treatment for Small Cell Lung Cancer. In the |
| stages - Stage I through IV. WebMD recently | | | | case of limited stage SCLC, radiation therapy |
| reports survival rates of NSCLC as: | | | | may also be used as the cancer is still |
| | | | localized to the chest area where radiation |
| · Stage 1A or 1B with no lymph node | | | | can be focused. |