What is lung cancer?
Lung cancer is a complex disease with many confusing medical terms. It is a type of cancer that starts in your lungs. It’s not a cancer that has spread to your lungs from somewhere else. (That’s called a lung metastasis.)
It happens when some of your lung cells develop changes in their DNA (mutations). These mutations make the cells divide too quickly, leading to even more changed lung cells (cancer cells). These cells can form an abnormal lump of tissue called a tumour.
Tumours can be:
- Malignant: These can spread to other parts of your body
- Benign: These are not cancerous and usually don’t spread.
As lung cancer grows, it can affect your breathing, cause pain, and lead to other problems. If it’s not treated, the cancer cells can spread throughout your body.
Types of lung cancer
There are two main types of lung cancer:
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Through a microscope, these cells look bigger.
- Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is less common and tends to be more aggressive, which is why it grows and spreads faster than NSCLC. Through a microscope, these cells look small and round.
Another rarer type of lung cancer is called mesothelioma, which can develop after exposure to asbestos.
Each type of lung cancer behaves differently and needs different treatments. It’s important to learn as much as possible about the type of lung cancer you or your loved one has. A doctor can request imaging scans or a biopsy, a sample of tissue or fluid from your lungs, to find out more.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
NSCLC makes up around 60% of all lung cancers1. Some common types include:
- Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of NSCLC and usually grows slowly in cells that make mucus in the outer area of your lungs. It’s also the most common type of lung cancer in people who don’t smoke.
- Squamous cell carcinoma often starts in the cells that line the inside of your airways that connect your lungs to your windpipe.
- Large cell undifferentiated carcinoma starts in any part of the lung and tends to grow and spread quicker than the other types of NSCLC above.
There are other less common types of NSCLC too. Sometimes the cancer can be a mix and have more than one type of cell.
Recent medical advances can now target specific genes or molecules to treat different types of NSCLC more effectively. Talk to your doctor about genetic or molecular testing to see if these treatments might be an option for you.
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
SCLC accounts for 11-13% of new diagnoses. It usually starts as a small nodule in the outer area of the lungs.
SCLC is an aggressive cancer that grows and spreads quickly to other parts of the body. Often, it has already spread to other organs when it’s first diagnosed. Surgery is usually not an option for SCLC. Treatment typically involves chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the mesothelium, the thin lining that covers your internal organs. It’s caused by breathing in asbestos fibres.
Most mesotheliomas (90%) affect the lining around the lungs (pleural mesothelioma). Sometimes, it can develop in the abdomen (abdominal mesothelioma). Very rarely, it can occur in other parts of the body.
Speak with your doctor
When you talk to your doctor about lung cancer, it’s okay to ask questions if you don’t understand something. Lung cancer is complicated, and it can be hard to understand all at once. Your doctor can explain things in an easier way and give you some helpful information to learn more.
Sources
Was this page helpful?
Good job! Please give your positive feedback
How could we improve this post? Please Help us.
