Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small Cell Lung Cancer General Information

SCLC or Small Cell Lung Cancer is a fast-growing type of cancer that spreads very quickly in comparison with large cell lung cancer. This type of medical condition can be divided in three major different sub types: oat cell cancer (small cell carcinoma), combined small cell carcinoma and mixed large cell/small cell carcinoma. The most common type of Small Cell Lung Cancer is the oat cell type. It is well known that this type of cancer has a predilection for the male sex than for the female sex (the incidence is usually twice as high in men as in women). Globally, the lung cancer is the most common malignancy in men; more than 1 million cases of lung cancer are discovered every year, all around the world, with no race or ethnic group predilection. Also, more prone to develop this type of medical condition are the adults and the elders who used to smoke.

It is well known that tobacco smoking almost always causes various types of lung cancers. This is why this cancer is very rare among those who have never smoked. More exposed to this lung cancer are the uranium miners and those who work with radon, a gas that develops from uranium. Small Cell Lung Cancer starts usually in the bronchi (air tubes) found in the center of the chest. Although small, the cancerous cells grow very quickly and create tumors. These large masses spread rapidly to other parts of the body, even to the bones, brain and liver where they cause severe damage.

Small Cell Lung Cancer Symptoms

Being informed about the causes and the signs and symptoms of a disease help you discover it more rapidly, before the respective medical condition reaches its advanced stages. People who suffer from Small Cell Lung Cancer have had symptoms for a relatively short period of time (10 to 12 weeks) before they contact their health care provider. Usually, the manifestations of this medical condition are a result of the local growth of the tumor that spreads to the nearby tissues and organs. The most common signs and symptoms of this phase include one or more of the following: coughing up blood, pain felt in the chest area that worsens during deep breathing, severe cough and shortness of breath. The patients may also experience difficulty swallowing because of the compression of the esophagus, hoarseness of voice that is a result of the compression of the nerve that supplies the vocal cords, swelling of the hands and face because of the compression of the superior vena cava (that returns deoxygenated blood from the upper region of the body) etc. Some of the signs and symptoms caused by Small Cell Lung Cancer are due to distant spread of the cancer and depend on the site of spread. If it reaches to the brain, the patients will accuse severe headaches, nausea and vomiting, blurring of vision, weakness of a limb etc. Back pain occurs when the tumors have reached the vertebral column. When the spinal cord is damaged by the Small Cell Lung Cancer, the patient can remain paralyzed.

Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment

Any type of cancer can be very difficult to treat if it is not discovered in the first stages. As in the case of any other medical disorder, an early diagnosis of Small Cell Lung Cancer followed by the appropriate treatment option can significantly increase the chances for a full recovery in a shorter period of time. If you suspect you have this type of cancer, we strongly advise you to contact your health care provider as soon as possible, especially if you are smoking. Consult with a trained specialist if you present unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue, shortness of breath or pain in the chest area. If you develop more severe symptoms, for example coughing up large amounts of blood, sudden vision problems or shortness of breath etc, you should go immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department. During the medical examination you will be asked about the signs and symptoms you accuse. Also, the health care provider will perform a physical exam and will ask you about your personal medical history. You will also be asked if you smoke, and if so, for how long. The health care provider will listen to your chest with a stethoscope and if you have cancer, he or she may hear fluid around your lungs.

In many cases, Small Cell Lung Cancer has already spread by the time it is discovered. In order to rule out other medical disorders and to distinguish this type of cancerous condition from other lung cancers, the specialists will perform several tests, including one or more of the following: CBC (complete blood count), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan, bone scan, X-ray of the chest area, sputum test, CT (computerized tomography) scan, thoracentesis and PET (positron emission tomography) scan. Sometimes, a biopsy is needed to be certain upon the diagnosis. After Small Cell Lung Cancer is detected, more imaging studies must be done to determine the exact stage of the tumors, but most cases are already extensive. After the diagnosis is set, the health care provider must proceed immediately with the adequate treatment option, for each particular case.

The most efficient therapy for patients who deal with Small Cell Lung Cancer is the use of medications to kill the cancerous cells (called chemotherapy), either alone or in combination with radiation therapy (use of high-dose X-rays or other high-energy rays to eliminate the cancer cells). Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs that can be administrated either by mouth (orally) or injected into the vein (IV). The most commonly used drugs against Small Cell Lung Cancer are the following: Cyclophosphamide, prescribed as Neosar or Cytoxan (slows down the normal process of growth of the healthy and cancerous cells); Topotecan, prescribed as Hycamtin (inhibits the DNA duplication of the cancerous cells); Etoposide, prescribed as VePesid or Toposar (an anti-tumor medication that slows or even stops the growth of cancer slows by causing breakage in the DNA); Vincristine, prescribed as Oncovin (plant-based drug that interferes in the multiplying process of the DNA); Doxorubicin, prescribed as Rubex or Adriamycin (destroys the DNA).