Lung cancer is classified into two different types: small cell carcinoma (SCLC) and non-small cell carcinoma(NSCLC. Although there are several different types of lung cancer in humans, physicians classify them into one category or the other for treatment purposes.
Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC)
Non-small cell lung cancer includes three different subtypes:
- Squamous cell carcinoma - This type of cancer is usually the by product of smoking
- Adenocarcinoma - This type of non small cell lung cancer is usually found on the outer edge of the lung
- Large-cell undifferentiated carcinoma - Appears in any area of the lung and spreads very quickly
Non small cell carcinoma accounts for about 87% of all lung cancer diagnoses.
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (SCLS)
Don't let the name of this cancer fool you. In this cancer, the small cell can equal big cancer. These small sells multiply very rapidly, resulting in large tumors. It commonly develops in the bronchi of the lungs and spreads.
When lung cancer has characteristics of both small cell lung cancer and non small cell lung cancer, it is then called mixed small cell/large cell cancer.
