Small Cell Lung Cancer Causes

Oat Cell Carcinoma of the Lung

The number one reason among small cell lung cancer causes is heavy cigarette smoking. Small cell lung cancer usually only afflicts heavy smokers. It is not as common as non-small cell lung cancer, but it still causes thousands of deaths annually. About 15-25 percent of all lung cancer cases are small cell lung cancer.

SCLC and oat cell carcinoma of the lung Small cell lung cancer is also called oat cell carcinoma of the lung, small cell carcinoma, or simply "SCLC." The other common type of lung cancer is called non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC.

The longer you smoke, the more likely you are to get oat cell carcinoma or small cell lung cancer. When you stop smoking, your risk of getting SCLC drops significantly, even if you've smoked for a long time.

Medical research began to establish that smoking causes small cell lung cancer approximately fifty years ago. The lungs can repair such damage unless the exposure to tobacco smoke is prolonged and repeated. It usually takes years for cell damage to lead to small cell lung cancer.

Small cell lung carcinoma often starts in the larger airways of the lungs. It tends to grow and spread more quickly than non-small cell lung cancer.

Small cell lung cancer symptoms Many types of cancer don't present any symptoms at all in the early stages. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms begin to appear, the disease has usually advanced to a dangerous point. This is especially true with small cell lung cancer because it grows and spreads quickly.

The following small cell lung cancer symptoms are typical.

*A persistent cough not caused by a respiratory infection like a cold or the flu

*If you already have a "smoker's cough," and it gets worse or changes character, it could be a sign of small cell lung cancer. Changes in a chronic cough or "smoker's cough" are also a symptom.

*Hemoptysis, or coughing up blood. Blood mixed with mucus.

*Signs of bright red or rust color blood in sputum.

*Shortness of breath may indicate that the lungs are not processing oxygen well, which could be a sign of cell damage.

*Wheezing.

*A change in voice quality, especially a deepening tone or hoarseness.

*Headaches, body aches, joint pain.

*Neurological problems like a degraded memory, without evidence of Alzheimer's or some other cognitive disorder.

Any of these signs, alone or in combinations, should prompt a visit to your doctor.

Unfortunately, SCLC has often metastasized or spread to other organs, by the time it is diagnosed. For this reasons, the prognosis is often worse for small cell lung cancer than for non-small cell lung cancer.

Treatment of small cell lung cancer The first step in treatment is distinguishing between small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Treatment varies according to type.

It's also important to determine the stage the cancer has reached. Doctors separate lung cancer into four different stages, numbered I through IV. The higher the number, the further the cancer has progressed.

Chemotherapy and radiation are usually more effective with SCLC. On the other hand, non-small cell lung cancer can often be treated with surgery.

Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, among both men and women. Lung cancer accounts for more than one million deaths annually around the world.

Also see our articlea on lung cancer and smoking and lung cancer treatment.

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