Lung Cancer Classifications and Types

According to the National Cancer Institute, there are an estimated 219,440 new cases of lung cancer a year in the United States. Lung cancer can be life-threatening. Aggressive lung cancers can grow back after being surgically removed and can spread to other organs. There are two distinct types or classifications of lung cancer. Each type is broken down into stages in order to help determine which treatments are needed.

Small Cell Lung Cancer

• According to the National Cancer Institute, about 13 percent of all lung cancer cases are small cell lung cancer. This cancer is named based on how the cancer cells look under a microscope. Small cell lung cancer cells are small and oval shaped. This type of cancer is aggressive and forms in the tissues of the lungs. Small cell lung cancer will grow quickly and spread to other organs. There are two types of small cell lung cancer: small cell carcinoma and combined small cell carcinoma.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

• The National Cancer Institute reports that non-small cell cancer accounts for about 87 percent of all lung cancer cases in the United States. This lung cancer grows slowly. While non-small cell cancer can spread to other organs, it will spread slowly. There are three types of non-small lung cancer: squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Non-small cell lung cancer can be found in the lung tissue and in the fluids naturally found in areas of the lungs.

Stages of Small Cell Lung Cancer

• There are two stages of small cell lung cancer, the limited stage and the extensive stage. In the limited stage there are cancer cells in only one lung. In the extensive stage, cancer cells are found not only in the lung but may also be found in the tissues of the chest outside the infected lung or in other organs.

Begining Stages of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

• The stages of non-small cell lung cancer depend on the size of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or nearby tissue. The first stage is the occult or hidden stage. In the occult stage there is no tumor. The cancer cells are found in the sputem or in the water collected during a bronchoscopy. In stage 0 only the innermost lining of the lung is affected. This is not an invasive cancer and has not grown through the lung lining.

Stage 1 Non-Small Cell Lung Caner

• There are two categories of stage 1 non-small cell lung caner. Stage 1A is an invasive cancer that had grown through the lining and into deeper tissue. The tumor will be no more than 3 cm across and surrounded by normal tissue. Stage 1B cancer will either have a tumor more than 3 centimeters across, located in the main bronchus, or will have grown through the lung and into the pleura. Stage 1B cancer will not have spread into the lymph nodes.

Stage 2 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

• Stage 2A non-small cell lung cancer is defined as a tumor no more than 3 cm across and has spread into the lymph nodes. Stage 2B is defined two ways. The first definition involves cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes, is bigger than 3 cm across, and is located in the main bronchus or pleura. The other definition involves cancer that has not spread to the lymph nodes but has spread to the chest wall, diaphragm, pleura, main bronchus or the tissue around the heart.

Stage Three and Four Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

• Stage 3A cancer can be any size but is in the nearby lymph nodes and bronchi. In stage 3A the cancer has spread to multiple locations near the lung. Stage 3B tumors are any size. In stage 3B, cancer cells are found on the opposite side of the chest from the tumor or in the neck. Stage 3B cancer may have invaded nearby organs and be on more than one side of the lungs. Stage 4 non-small lung cancer involves tumors that have spread into far away organs like the brain, liver or bones.