Small cell Lung Cancer

Small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is divided into the small cell and non-small cell shape. This classification is based on the characteristics of the cells but also says something about the growth of the tumor and the speed with which this tumor spreads through the body. These characteristics have obvious consequences for the chosen treatment.

What is small cell lung cancer?

Small cell lung cancer or non-small cell are. Approximately 15% of cases of lung cancer are small cell. This type of cancer is characterized by tiny, fragile cells that divide very rapidly. This allows them rapidly through the body. Often it is, therefore, small cell lung cancer has already metastasized at the time of symptoms. The treatment of small cell lung cancer is different than in non small cell lung cancer. In most cases there will not be surgically intervene, but is treated by means of radiation therapy (radiation therapy), and chemotherapy.

The Symptoms

The signs or symptoms of lung cancer are not only caused by the tumor itself, including the possible spread through the body and their influence on the functioning of other organs, can cause complaints.

Complaints as a direct result of the tumor arise include: coughing, vomiting blood in the phlegm, shortness of breath and sometimes wheezing and recurrent respiratory infections.
 

Also as a result of the metastases, various signs or symptoms occur. By enlarged lymph nodes can be a flattening of the hollow upper body vein occur (superior vena cava syndrome) is characterized by swollen veins in the neck, face and arms up and complaints of headache and pain and congestion in the head when bending over. Hoarseness can be a result of the destruction of the nerve that goes to the vocal cord by pressure of enlarged lymph nodes or by the tumor itself. Pain in the chest can occur by invasion of the chest wall. Difficulty swallowing can be caused by enlarged lymph nodes near the esophagus pressures.

Because this tumor rapidly spreads throughout the body, symptoms may also occur elsewhere in the body. Both bone pains in the back and in the arms or legs rest on metastases in the bone. Headache may be due to metastases in the brains. Metastasis in the liver can cause pain but also responsible for jaundice. Idem: even in non-small cell

The tumor cells can also secrete a type substances, or endocrine glands (glands that produce substances or certain issue) influence. This could be a low sodium level in the blood formation and calcium levels in the blood can be increased. There may also be symptoms that fit feminization of men such as breast development and loss of male pattern hair