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Squamous Cell Carcinoma Lung Cure

Squamous cell carcinoma is a form of cancer that begins in thin, flat (squamous) cells in or near the bronchial tubes inside the lungs. It is one form of a larger group of diseases called non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). The condition has a number of potential causes, including smoking and exposure to a number of chemicals. Cure rates for squamous cell carcinoma vary with the progression of the disease at the time of detection.

  1. Stages of Squamous Cell Carcinoma

    • Like other forms of NSCLC, the progress of squamous cell carcinoma is divided into five basic stages. In stage 0, cancer is limited to the lung's inner lining. In stage 1, the cancer is contained inside the lung and has not affected nearby lymph nodes. In stage 2, cancer has spread to lymph nodes near the original tumor site. In stage 3, cancer has spread to lymph nodes further away, as well as to other nearby tissues. In stage 4, the cancer has spread even further to other organs such as the brain, liver or the other lung.

    Surgery

    • Surgery is a frequent treatment option for squamous cell carcinoma that has not spread beyond the lungs or their associated lymph nodes. Depending on the location and the extent of the cancer, surgeons may perform one of three basic procedures. In a segment or wedge removal, surgeons will cut away a relatively small portion of the affected lung. In a lobectomy, they will remove an entire lobe of the lung. In a pneumonectomy, they will remove an entire affected lung. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, surgery may provide an effective cure morethan 50 percent of the time in individuals whose cancer is limited to stage 1 or 2.

    Radiation Therapy

    • Radiation therapy uses controlled doses of radiation to limit or stop the growth of cancer cells. It comes in two basic forms: external radiation, which is focused at the site of the cancer by a specialized machine, and internal radiation, which uses implanted radioactive pellets placed in the lung at the site of the tumor. In early- to mid-stage squamous cell carcinoma, external radiation is used as an active curative treatment. In later stages of the disease, it is used to ease some of the pain associated with advanced cancer. Internal radiation is also used in late-stage squamous carcinoma.

    Chemotherapy

    • Chemotherapy is a drug treatment used to kill existing cancer cells and prevent the growth of new ones. It is typically used in the middle and later stages when squamous cell carcinoma has spread beyond the lungs. It is frequently combined with other forms of treatment, including radiation therapy.

    Potential Outcomes

    • The best cure rates are found in the early stages of the disease, when surgery is still effective. While available treatments are also sometimes effective for stage 3 patients, cure rates at this level drop significantly. When squamous cell carcinoma reaches stage 4, a cure is typically not possible. The goal of treatment here is to maintain quality of life as long as possible.

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