Small Cell Lung Cancer

A rare type of cancer that grows fast and affects the lungs is called small-cell lung cancer. While it can affect anyone, it mostly occurs in people with a long history of smoking tobacco. However, sometimes, this type of cancer can be cured, especially when it is found early. The only sure way to prevent small-cell lung cancer is to quit smoking, especially if you smoke cigarettes.

Generally, this type of cancer accounts for about 15% of all diagnosed lung cancers in the U.S. Therefore, it occurs less commonly compared to non-small cell lung cancer.

Types

Healthcare professionals have divided this condition into 2 types. Examples include:

Small cell carcinoma – This is the most common type of small cell lung cancer.
Combined small cell carcinoma – This type of small cell lung cancer accounts for about 2% to 5% of all diagnosed small cell carcinomas and involves a combination of non-small cell and small cell lung cancer cells.

Symptoms

People who develop this type of cancer usually experience the following symptoms. Check below some examples:

Hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
Chronic cough
Chest discomfort or pain
Facial swelling
Breathing problems
Hoarseness
Swollen neck veins
Appetite changes
Wheezing
Unusual weight loss

If you experience any of the previous symptoms, it still does not necessarily indicate small-cell lung cancer because there are other, less serious conditions that cause similar symptoms. That’s why you should visit a doctor if any of the previous symptoms occur, especially if you are a smoker.

Causes and Risk Factors

Mostly, people who smoke are diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer. Therefore, smoking is the biggest risk factor for this type of cancer. Check below for other factors that could increase your risk of developing small-cell lung cancer:

Prolonged exposure to radiation from cancer treatments or imaging tests may increase the risk of this type of cancer.
Exposure to radon gas (this is a radioactive and colorless gas that may seep into homes and other buildings)
A family history of lung cancer
HIV infection
Workplace hazards (including asbestos, arsenic, nickel, tar, or other toxic chemicals)

What Are The Potential Complications of Small Cell Lung Cancer?

Sometimes, people with this type of cancer may also experience some complications. It often occurs in the advanced stages of cancer, especially if the affected person does not get treatment. Check below the most common complications of small cell lung cancer:

Facial swelling
Shortness of breath
Blood clots
Increased risk of infections
Spinal cord compression
Hypercalcemia
Esophagus complications
Superior vena cava syndrome
Pancoast tumors
Pleural effusion
Pericardial effusion
Metastatic cancer
Paraneoplastic syndromes (including SIADH, Cushing’s syndrome, Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic syndrome, and others)

This document does not contain a full list of small-cell lung cancer complications. However, you can consult with your doctor about ways to reduce the risk or even prevent complications of this cancer.

How to Prevent Small Cell Lung Cancer?

The only sure way to reduce the risk of small-cell lung cancer is smoking cessation. It is important to know that it does not matter how old you are. The lungs begin to heal right after you stop smoking. If you are facing problems with quitting smoking, discuss it with your healthcare professional. Check below for other tips that may help reduce the risk:

Adopt a healthy diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables
Try to get and maintain a healthy weight (excessive body weight or obesity is a risk factor for multiple health problems)
Regularly perform physical exercise
It is also recommended to test your home for radon and install a mitigation system to remove it (if needed)
Limit or get protection against chemicals (including Asbestos, Arsenic, or Nickel)

Diagnosis

Healthcare professionals usually perform a chest X-ray first to evaluate for any type of lung cancer. If results show suspicious spots on the lungs, physicians may perform one or more of the following tests to confirm the condition and rule out other diseases that cause similar symptoms. Check below some examples:

Imaging tests – Physicians often perform CT (computed tomography) scans and PET (positron emission tomography) scans to identify lung tumors.
Biopsy – During this procedure, physicians remove a small amount of affected tissue for testing under a microscope. This test often helps identify cancerous cells and confirm the condition.
Bronchoscopy – This test involves a bronchoscope, which helps identify tumors in the lung’s airways. During this procedure, doctors may remove a sample of tissue for biopsy.

Once you are diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer, physicians may perform additional imaging tests to determine the extent (stage) of the cancer. It helps make the best treatment plan for you. Generally, there are 2 stages of this type of cancer. For example:

Limited (localized) stage – In such cases, the cancer has not spread, and the tumor is localized in one of the lungs only. Furthermore, approximately 1 out of 3 people with small-cell lung cancer have this stage.
Extensive (metastasis) stage – When it occurs, the tumor breaks and spreads to other structures and organs in the body. For example, lymph nodes, bones, and others.

Treatment

Usually, doctors prescribe different treatments for people with small-cell lung cancer because it depends on several factors. These include the type and severity of cancer, age, existing health problems, and preferences. Check below some treatments often recommended for people with this type of cancer:

Surgery – When the tumor is localized, meaning it does not spread to other parts of the body, surgery may be the only treatment needed. During this procedure, surgeons will remove the tumor and some healthy tissues that surround it.
Radiation therapy – This option uses radiation to destroy cancerous cells. This energy usually comes from X-rays, protons, and other sources. Sometimes, physicians may recommend this treatment before surgery to shrink a large tumor or after surgery to destroy cancer cells that may remain after surgery. Moreover, doctors may prescribe radiation therapy along with chemotherapy when surgery is not an option.
Chemotherapy – This treatment involves strong medications that kill cancerous cells throughout the body. It is often prescribed by doctors in advanced stages of cancer or when surgery is not an option.
Immunotherapy – It also involves medicines that boost the immune system to find and destroy cancer cells. However, cancer cells usually produce substances that help them hide from the immune system. Immunotherapy is recommended for people with metastatic cancer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does small-cell lung cancer affect my body?

This type of cancer appears as others when specific cells develop DNA mutations. In normal circumstances, DNA gives instructions to cells on when to grow, multiply, and die. When a DNA mutates, it gives different instructions to cells, which makes them grow and multiply abnormally. If the number of abnormal cells becomes high, they form a mass called a tumor. Over time, this tumor may break and spread throughout the body. In such cases, the condition is called metastatic cancer.

What is the life expectancy of a person with small-cell lung cancer?

The survival rate is based on the extent of cancer at diagnosis and treatment. However, for localized cancer, the median survival rate ranges from 15-20 months with treatments, but if the cancer spreads (metastasizes), the survival rate decreases to 7 to 11 months. For more details, discuss it with your doctor.

Is small-cell lung cancer curable?

Nowadays, there is no sure way to cure this type of cancer. However, physicians may recommend treatments to reduce the symptoms and improve your quality of life. If you have any other questions, ask your healthcare provider.