Deborah’s Experience with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 80% of all lung cancers Mayo Clinic [invalid URL removed]. It develops from the cells lining the airways of the lungs. Unlike small cell lung cancer, NSCLC tends to grow and spread more slowly.
There are several different subtypes of NSCLC, each with slightly different characteristics. The three main types are:
- Adenocarcinoma: This is the most common type of NSCLC, arising from the outer part of the lung. Opens in a new window clevelandclinic.org Adenocarcinoma lung cancer
- Squamous cell carcinoma: This type begins in the flat cells lining the airways of the lung. Opens in a new window verywellhealth.com Squamous cell carcinoma lung cancer
- Large cell carcinoma: This type can occur anywhere in the lung and tends to grow quickly. Opens in a new window www.verywellhealth.com Large cell carcinoma lung cancer
Other less common types of NSCLC include:
- Carcinoid tumors: These are slow-growing tumors that can sometimes behave more like benign tumors than cancers.
- Sarcomas: These cancers start in the connective tissues of the lung.
Risk Factors:
The main risk factor for non-small cell lung cancer is smoking, though exposure to secondhand smoke and radon gas can also increase your risk. Other risk factors include air pollution, a family history of lung cancer, and occupational exposures to certain chemicals, such as asbestos.
Symptoms:
NSCLC often doesn’t cause any symptoms in its early stages. However, as the cancer grows, you may experience some of the following:
- A cough that doesn’t go away or gets worse over time
- Coughing up blood
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Hoarseness
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss for no known reason
- Feeling very tired (fatigue)
- Frequent infections, such as pneumonia
- Swelling in your face and/or veins in your neck
Diagnosis:
If you have any of these symptoms, your doctor will order tests to determine the cause. These tests may include:
- Chest X-ray
- CT scan of the chest
- PET scan
- Biopsy
Treatment:
The treatment for NSCLC depends on the stage of the cancer, the type of NSCLC you have, your overall health, and your preferences. Treatment options may include:
- Surgery: If the cancer is confined to a small area of the lung, surgery may be an option to remove the cancerous tissue.
- Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body.
- Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy drugs attack specific weaknesses in cancer cells.
- Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy helps your immune system fight cancer.
Prognosis:
The prognosis for non-small cell lung cancer depends on the stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis. Early-stage NSCLC is more treatable than late-stage NSCLC. If you have NSCLC, your doctor can talk to you about your specific prognosis.
Here are some resources for more information on non-small cell lung cancer:
- American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer.html
- National Cancer Institute: https://www.cancer.gov/types/lung/hp/non-small-cell-lung-treatment-pdq