Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. It usually grows and spreads more slowly than small cell lung cancer.
There are three forms of NSCLC:
Adenocarcinomas are often found in an outer area of the lung.
Squamous cell carcinomas are usually found in the center of the lung by an air tube (bronchus).
Large cell carcinomas can occur in any part of the lung. They tend to grow and spread faster than the other two types.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Smoking causes most cases of lung cancer. Being around the smoke from others (secondhand smoke) also raises your risk for lung cancer. However, people who do not smoke and have never smoked have become sick with lung cancer.
A review of decades of research has recently shown that smoking marijuana may help cancer cells grow, but there is no direct link between the drug and lung cancer.
High levels of air pollution, working with or near cancer-causing chemicals or materials (such as asbestos), and drinking water containing high levels of arsenic can increase your risk for lung cancer. Radiation therapy to the lungs can also increase the risk.
Symptoms
Early lung cancer may not cause any symptoms. Symptoms you should watch for include:
Lung cancer - small cell (18 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a fast-growing type of lung cancer. It tends to spread much more quickly than non-small cell lung cancer. There are three different types of small cell lung cancer: Small cell carcinoma (oat cell cancer; Mixed small cell/large cell carcinoma; Combined small cell carcinoma. Most small cell lung cancers are the oat cell type. Reviewer: Sean O. Stitham, MD, private practice in Internal Medicine, Seattle, Washington; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/04/2008
Mesothelioma (malignant) (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon cancerous tumor of the lining of the lung and chest cavity (pleura) or lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) that is typically due to long-term asbestos exposure. Reviewer: Sean O. Stitham, MD, private practice in Internal Medicine, Seattle, Washington; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/04/2008
Metastasis (4 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Metastasis is the movement or spreading of cancer cells from one organ or tissue to another. Cancer cells usually spread through the bloodstream or the lymph system. Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 10/20/2008
Metastatic cancer to the lung (12 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Metastatic cancer to the lung is cancer that starts somewhere else in the body and spreads to the lungs. See also: Lung cancer Reviewer: Sean O. Stitham, MD, private practice in Internal Medicine, Seattle, Washington; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/04/2008
Metastatic pleural tumor (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Metastatic pleural tumor is a type of cancer that has spread from another organ to the thin membrane (pleura) surrounding the lungs. Reviewer: Sean O. Stitham, MD, private practice in Internal Medicine, Seattle, Washington; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/04/2008
Lung needle biopsy (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A lung needle biopsy is a method to remove a piece of lung tissue for examination. Reviewer: Benjamin Medoff, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/13/2008
Open lung biopsy (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
An open lung biopsy is surgery to remove a small piece of tissue from the lung. The sample is then examined for cancer, infection, or lung disease. Reviewer: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 10/10/2008
Asbestosis (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Asbestosis is a respiratory disease brought on by inhaling asbestos fibers. Reviewer: Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine UMDNJ-NJMS, Attending Physician in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Veterans Affairs, VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/24/2009
Smoking hazards (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Question:
What are the negative effects of smoking? Answer:
Smokers have an increased risk of the following: Lung cancer; Lung disease; Heart attack; Heart disease; Hypertension; Stroke; Oral cancer; Bladder cancer; Pancreatic cancer; Cervical cancer; Pregnancy complications; Low birth weight babies; Early menopause; Lower estrogen level for women; Facial wrinkles. Children of smokers have an increased risk of the following: Sudden infant death syndrome; Respiratory infections; Lung cancer; Ear infections. Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 02/23/2009
Smoking - tips on how to quit (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
There are a lot of ways to quit smoking and many resources to help you. Family members, friends, and coworkers may be supportive or encouraging, but the desire and commitment to quit must be your own. Most people who have been able to successfully quit smoking made at least one unsuccessful attempt in the past. Try not to view past attempts to quit as failures, but rather as learning experiences. Feel ready to quit? First and foremost, set a quit date and quit completely on that day. To prepare for that day: Identify the times you are most likely to smoke. For example, do you tend to smoke when feeling stressed? When you are out at night with friends? While you are drinking coffee or alcohol? When you are bored? While you are driving; Keep a diary to help you determine such risky times. Record each time you have a cigarette, including time of day and what you are doing; Make a plan about what you will do instead of smoking at those times when you are most likely to smoke. For example, drink tea instead of coffee - tea may not trigger the desire for a cigarette. Or, take a walk when feeling stressed. Remove ashtrays and cigarettes from the car. Place pretzels or hard candies there instead. Pretend-smoke with a straw; Let all of your friends, family, and coworkers know of your plan to stop smoking and your quit date. Just being aware that they know can be a helpful reminder and motivator; Before your quit date, start reducing your cigarette use, including decreasing the number and strength of the cigarettes. However, do NOT do this simply to make your diary "look good." Get rid of all of your cigarettes just before the quit date, and clean out anything that smells like smoke, such as clothes and furniture. Other tips to help you quit smoking and stick to it: Enroll in a smoking cessation program (hospitals, health departments, community centers, and work sites often offer programs; Ask your health care provider for advice, including whether prescription medications are safe and appropriate for you; Find out about nicotine patches, gum, and sprays; Try hypnosis - it works for some people; Avoid smoke-filled settings and situations in which you are more likely to smoke; Get more exercise. It helps relieve the urge to smoke; Learn self-hypnosis from a qualified practitioner. This helps some people. The American Cancer Society's web site - www.cancer.org - is an excellent resource for smokers who are trying to quit, and the Great American Smokeout can help some smokers kick the habit. Above all, don't get discouraged if you aren't able to quit smoking the first time. Nicotine addiction is a hard habit to break. Try something different next time. See also: Nicotine withdrawal; Tobacco use. Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/19/2008
Diet - cancer treatment(Doctor-Reviewed information)
People with cancer need special nutritional planning and management. Reviewer: Patrika Tsai, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Clinical Professor, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 07/22/2008
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