BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuLung cancer - small cellCancer - lung - small cell; Small cell lung cancer; SCLCSmall cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a fast-growing type of lung cancer. It spreads much more quickly than non-small cell lung cancer.Lung cancerLung cancer is cancer that starts in the lungs. The lungs are located in the chest. When you breathe, air goes through your nose, down your windpipe...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Non-small cell lung cancerNon-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer. It usually grows and spreads more slowly than small cell lung cancer. There are t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersThere are two types of SCLC:Small cell carcinoma (oat cell cancer) Combined small cell carcinoma Most SCLCs are of the oat cell type. Causes About 15% of all lung cancer cases are SCLC. Small cell lung cancer is slightly more common in men than women.Almost all cases of SCLC are due to cigarette smoking. SCLC is very rare in people who have never smoked.SCLC is the most aggressive form of lung cancer. It usually starts in the breathing tubes (bronchi) in the center of the chest. Although the cancer cells are small, they grow very quickly and create large tumors. These tumors often spread rapidly (metastasize) to other parts of the body, including the brain, liver, and bone. Symptoms Symptoms of SCLC include:Bloody sputum (phlegm) Bloody sputumCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract). Hemoptysis is the medical term for cough...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chest pain Chest painChest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cough Loss of appetite Shortness of breath Shortness of breathBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Weight loss Weight lossUnexplained weight loss is a decrease in body weight, when you did not try to lose the weight on your own. Many people gain and lose weight. Uninten...Read Article Now Book Mark Article WheezingOther symptoms that may occur with this disease, especially in the late stages, include:Facial swelling Facial swellingFacial swelling is the buildup of fluid in the tissues of the face. Swelling may also affect the neck and upper arms.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fever Hoarseness or changing voice Hoarseness or changing voiceHoarseness refers to difficulty making sounds when trying to speak. Vocal sounds may be weak, breathy, scratchy, or husky, and the pitch or quality ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Swallowing difficulty WeaknessWeaknessWeakness is reduced strength in one or more muscles.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history. You will be asked whether you smoke, and if so, how much and for how long.When listening to your chest with a stethoscope, your provider may hear fluid around the lungs or areas where the lung has partially collapsed. Each of these findings may suggest cancer.CollapsedA collapsed lung occurs when air escapes from the lung. The air then fills the space outside of the lung between the lung and chest wall. This buil...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article SCLC has usually spread to other parts of your body by the time it is diagnosed.Tests that may be performed include:Bone scan Bone scanA bone scan is an imaging test used to diagnose bone diseases and find out how severe they are.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Chest x-ray Complete blood count (CBC) CBCA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan CT scanA chest CT (computed tomography) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the chest and upper abdomen....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function tests Liver function testsLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRI scan MRI scanA chest MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to create pictures of the chest (...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Positron emission tomography (PET) scan PETA lung positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test. It uses a radioactive substance (called a tracer) to look for disease in the lung...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sputum test (to look for cancer cells) Sputum testRoutine sputum culture is a laboratory test that looks for germs that cause infection. Sputum is the material that comes up from air passages when y...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Thoracentesis (removal of fluid from the chest cavity around the lungs)ThoracentesisThoracentesis is a procedure to remove fluid from the space between the lining of the outside of the lungs (pleura) and the wall of the chest....Read Article Now Book Mark Article In most cases, a piece of tissue is removed from your lungs or other areas to be examined under a microscope. This is called a biopsy. There are several ways to do a biopsy:Bronchoscopy combined with biopsy BronchoscopyBronchoscopy is a test to view the airways and diagnose lung disease. It may also be used during the treatment of some lung conditions.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BiopsyA biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.Read Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan-directed needle biopsy CT scan-directed needle biopsyA lung needle biopsy is a method to remove a piece of lung tissue for examination. If it is done through the wall of your chest, it is called a tran...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Endoscopic esophageal or bronchial ultrasound with biopsy Mediastinoscopy with biopsy Mediastinoscopy with biopsyMediastinoscopy with biopsy is a procedure in which a lighted instrument (mediastinoscope) is inserted in the space in the chest between the lungs (m...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open lung biopsy Open lung biopsyAn open lung biopsy is surgery to remove a small piece of tissue from the lung. The sample is then examined for cancer, infection, or lung disease....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pleural biopsy Pleural biopsyPleural biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of the pleura. This is the thin tissue that lines the chest cavity and surrounds the lungs. The bi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Video-assisted thoracoscopyVideo-assisted thoracoscopyLung surgery is surgery done to repair or remove lung tissue. There are many common lung surgeries, including:Biopsy of an unknown growth in or arou...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Usually, if a biopsy shows cancer, more imaging tests are done to find out the stage of the cancer. Stage means how big the tumor is and how far it has spread. SCLC is classified as either:Limited -- Cancer is only in the chest and can be treated with radiation therapy. Extensive -- Cancer has spread outside the area that can be covered by radiation therapy. Treatment Because SCLC spreads quickly throughout the body, treatment will include cancer-killing drugs (chemotherapy), which are usually given through a vein (by IV).ChemotherapyThe term chemotherapy is used to describe cancer-killing drugs. Chemotherapy may be used to:Cure the cancerShrink the cancerPrevent the cancer from ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and possibly radiation, may be done for people with SCLC that has spread throughout the body (extensive). In this case, the treatment only helps relieve symptoms and prolongs life, but does not cure the disease.RadiationRadiation therapy uses high-powered radiation (such as x-rays or gamma rays), particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Radiation therapy can be used with chemotherapy if the disease is confined to one area within the chest (limited).Radiation therapy uses powerful x-rays or other forms of radiation to kill cancer cells.Radiation may be used to:Treat the cancer, along with chemotherapy, if surgery is not possible. Help relieve symptoms caused by the cancer, such as breathing problems and swelling. Help relieve cancer pain when the cancer has spread to the bones.Often, SCLC may have already spread to the brain. This can occur even when there are no symptoms or other signs of cancer in the brain. As a result, some people with smaller cancers, or who had a good response in their first round of chemotherapy, may receive radiation therapy to the brain. This therapy is done to prevent spread of the cancer to the brain.Surgery helps very few people with SCLC because the disease has often spread by the time it is diagnosed. Surgery may be done when there is only one tumor that has not spread. If surgery is done, chemotherapy or radiation therapy is still needed. Support Groups You can ease the stress of illness by joining a cancer support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.Cancer support groupThe following organizations are good resources for information on cancer:American Cancer Society. Support and online communities. www. cancer. org/...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) How well you do depends on how much the lung cancer has spread. SCLC is very deadly. Not many people with this type of cancer are still alive 5 years after diagnosis.Treatment can often prolong life to more than 12 months, even when the cancer has spread.In rare cases, if SCLC is diagnosed early, treatment may result in a long-term cure. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have symptoms of lung cancer, particularly if you smoke. Prevention If you smoke, now is the time to quit. If you are having trouble quitting, talk with your provider. There are many methods to help you quit, from support groups to prescription medicines. Also try to avoid secondhand smoke.Support groupsIt is hard to quit smoking if you are acting alone. Smokers usually have a much better chance of quitting with a support program. Stop smoking prog...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Prescription medicinesNicotine replacement therapy is a treatment to help people stop smoking. It uses products that supply low doses of nicotine. These products do not ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If you smoke or used to smoke, talk with your provider about getting screened for lung cancer. To get screened, you need to have a CT scan of the chest.Open ReferencesReferencesAraujo LH, Horn L, Merritt RE, Shilo K, Xu-Welliver M, Carbone DP. Cancer of the lung: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 69.National Comprehensive Cancer Network website. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: Small cell lung cancer. Version 1.2024. www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/sclc.pdf. Updated September 5, 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023.National Cancer Institute website. Small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/lung/hp/small-cell-lung-treatment-pdq. Updated March 2, 2023. Accessed September 8, 2023.Rivera MP, Mody GN, Weiner AA. Lung cancer: treatment. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, Talmadge EK, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 77.AllVideoImagesTogLung cancerAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersLung cancer - Animation Cancer can affect just about any part of the body, from the colon to the pancreas. Some cancers grow quickly, while others grow more slowly and are easier to treat. But of all the different cancers out there, one of the deadliest is lung cancer. Let's talk today about lung cancer. Cancer starts when cells begin to grow uncontrollably and form tumors. In the case of lung cancer, the tumors start in the lungs. Sometimes cancer starts somewhere else in the body and then spreads to the lungs. In that case, it's called metastatic cancer to the lung. Metastatic means disease that has spread. There are two types of lung cancer. The most common, and slower-growing form is non-small cell lung cancer. The other, faster-growing form is called small cell lung cancer. The most common way to get lung cancer is to smoke cigarettes. The more cigarettes you smoke and the earlier you start smoking, the greater your risk is. Even being around someone who smokes and breathing in the secondhand smoke from their cigarettes increases your risk of getting lung cancer. Even though smoking makes you much more likely to get lung cancer, you don't have to smoke or be exposed to smoke to get the disease. Some people who have lung cancer never lit up a cigarette in their life. They have been exposed to cancer-causing substances like asbestos, diesel fumes, arsenic, radiation, or radon gas. Or, they may not have had any known lung cancer risks. The most common signs of lung cancer are a cough that won't go away, chest pain, shortness of breath, weight loss, and fatigue. But just because you have these symptoms it doesn't mean that you have don't have lung cancer. These can also be signs of other conditions, like asthma or a respiratory infection. If you do have these symptoms, see your doctor. A chest x-ray, MRI, or CT scan can view the inside of your lungs to look for signs of cancer or other diseases. What happens if you do have lung cancer? Doctors divide lung cancer into stages. The higher the stage, the more the cancer has spread. For example, a stage 1 cancer is small and hasn't spread outside of the lungs. A stage 4 cancer has spread to the other organs, such as the kidneys or brain. Depending upon the type and stage of your lung cancer, you may need surgery to remove part or all of your lung. Or, your doctor may recommend radiation or chemotherapy to kill cancer cells. If you have lung cancer, how well you do depends upon the stage of your disease and the type of lung cancer that you have. Early-stage cancers have the highest survival and cure rates. Late-stage cancers are harder to treat. Because lung cancer can be so deadly, prevention is key. The most important that thing you can do is to stop smoking, and avoid being around anyone who does smoke.Bronchoscopy - illustration Bronchoscopy is a surgical technique for viewing the interior of the airways. Using sophisticated flexible fiber optic instruments, surgeons are able to explore the trachea, main stem bronchi, and some of the small bronchi. In children, this procedure may be used to remove foreign objects that have been inhaled. In adults, the procedure is most often used to take samples of (biopsy) suspicious lesions and for culturing specific areas in the lung.BronchoscopyillustrationLungs - illustration The major features of the lungs include the bronchi, the bronchioles and the alveoli. The alveoli are the microscopic blood vessel-lined sacks in which oxygen and carbon dioxide gas are exchanged.LungsillustrationLung cancer - lateral chest x-ray - illustration A lateral view of a chest x-ray in a patient with central cancer of the lung.Lung cancer - lateral chest x-rayillustrationLung cancer - frontal chest X-ray - illustration A chest x-ray in a patient with central cancer of the right lung. Notice the white mass in the middle portion of the right lung (seen on the left side of the picture).Lung cancer - frontal chest X-rayillustrationAdenocarcinoma - chest x-ray - illustration This chest x-ray shows adenocarcinoma of the lung. There is a rounded light spot in the right upper lung (left side of the picture) at the level of the second rib. The light spot has irregular and poorly defined borders and is not uniform in density. Diseases that may cause this type of x-ray result would be tuberculous or fungal granuloma, and malignant or benign tumors.Adenocarcinoma - chest x-rayillustrationBronchial cancer - CT scan - illustration This chest CT scan shows a cross-section of a person with bronchial cancer. The two dark areas are the lungs. The light areas within the lungs represent the cancer.Bronchial cancer - CT scanillustrationBronchial cancer - chest X-ray - illustration This is a chest x-ray of a person with bronchial cancer. This is a front view. The lungs are the two dark areas. The heart and other structures are white areas visible in the middle of the chest. The light areas that appear as subtle branches extending from the center into the lungs are cancerous. Bronchial cancer - chest X-rayillustrationLung with squamous cell cancer - CT scan - illustration This CT scan shows a cross section of the lungs of a person with lung cancer. The two dark areas in the middle of the screen are the lungs. The light areas in the right lung (on the left of the screen) represent the cancer.Lung with squamous cell cancer - CT scanillustrationLung cancer - chemotherapy treatment - illustration Treatment for lung cancer depends on the type of cancer and the stage of the disease. Chemotherapy is a form of treatment for lung cancer which may cure, shrink or keep the cancer from spreading.Lung cancer - chemotherapy treatmentillustrationAdenocarcinoma - illustration Adenocarcinoma usually develops on the outer boundaries of the lungs and is more commonly found in women than in men.AdenocarcinomaillustrationNon-small cell carcinoma - illustration Non-small cell carcinomas are the most common lung cancers.Non-small cell carcinomaillustrationSmall cell carcinoma - illustration Small cell carcinoma, also called oat cell carcinoma, can create its own hormones, which alter body chemistry.Small cell carcinomaillustrationSquamous cell carcinoma - illustration Squamous cell carcinoma commonly starts in the bronchi and may not spread as rapidly as other lung cancers.Squamous cell carcinomaillustrationSecondhand smoke and lung cancer - illustration Secondhand smoke has been classified as a known cause of lung cancer in humans (Group A carcinogen).Secondhand smoke and lung cancerillustrationNormal lungs and alveoli - illustration The lungs are located in the chest cavity and are responsible for respiration. The alveoli are small sir sacs where oxygen is exchanged in the lungs.Normal lungs and alveoliillustrationRespiratory system - illustration Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs.Respiratory systemillustrationSmoking hazards - illustration Smoking cigarettes puts a person at risk for emphysema, lung cancer and other health problems. Second-hand smoke (smoke from a nearby cigarette) may also contribute to these diseases, especially among children.Smoking hazardsillustrationBronchoscope - illustration Lung or bronchial biopsy (tissue samples taken to diagnose or rule out disease) may be done with the use of a flexible bronchoscope, an instrument with a small light and camera which is inserted through the nose or mouth. When a suspicious area is seen, an instrument is channeled through the bronchoscope to take a sample for analysis.BronchoscopeillustrationLung cancerAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersLung cancer - Animation Cancer can affect just about any part of the body, from the colon to the pancreas. Some cancers grow quickly, while others grow more slowly and are easier to treat. But of all the different cancers out there, one of the deadliest is lung cancer. Let's talk today about lung cancer. Cancer starts when cells begin to grow uncontrollably and form tumors. In the case of lung cancer, the tumors start in the lungs. Sometimes cancer starts somewhere else in the body and then spreads to the lungs. In that case, it's called metastatic cancer to the lung. Metastatic means disease that has spread. There are two types of lung cancer. The most common, and slower-growing form is non-small cell lung cancer. The other, faster-growing form is called small cell lung cancer. The most common way to get lung cancer is to smoke cigarettes. The more cigarettes you smoke and the earlier you start smoking, the greater your risk is. Even being around someone who smokes and breathing in the secondhand smoke from their cigarettes increases your risk of getting lung cancer. Even though smoking makes you much more likely to get lung cancer, you don't have to smoke or be exposed to smoke to get the disease. Some people who have lung cancer never lit up a cigarette in their life. They have been exposed to cancer-causing substances like asbestos, diesel fumes, arsenic, radiation, or radon gas. Or, they may not have had any known lung cancer risks. The most common signs of lung cancer are a cough that won't go away, chest pain, shortness of breath, weight loss, and fatigue. But just because you have these symptoms it doesn't mean that you have don't have lung cancer. These can also be signs of other conditions, like asthma or a respiratory infection. If you do have these symptoms, see your doctor. A chest x-ray, MRI, or CT scan can view the inside of your lungs to look for signs of cancer or other diseases. What happens if you do have lung cancer? Doctors divide lung cancer into stages. The higher the stage, the more the cancer has spread. For example, a stage 1 cancer is small and hasn't spread outside of the lungs. A stage 4 cancer has spread to the other organs, such as the kidneys or brain. Depending upon the type and stage of your lung cancer, you may need surgery to remove part or all of your lung. Or, your doctor may recommend radiation or chemotherapy to kill cancer cells. If you have lung cancer, how well you do depends upon the stage of your disease and the type of lung cancer that you have. Early-stage cancers have the highest survival and cure rates. Late-stage cancers are harder to treat. Because lung cancer can be so deadly, prevention is key. The most important that thing you can do is to stop smoking, and avoid being around anyone who does smoke.Bronchoscopy - illustration Bronchoscopy is a surgical technique for viewing the interior of the airways. Using sophisticated flexible fiber optic instruments, surgeons are able to explore the trachea, main stem bronchi, and some of the small bronchi. In children, this procedure may be used to remove foreign objects that have been inhaled. In adults, the procedure is most often used to take samples of (biopsy) suspicious lesions and for culturing specific areas in the lung.BronchoscopyillustrationLungs - illustration The major features of the lungs include the bronchi, the bronchioles and the alveoli. The alveoli are the microscopic blood vessel-lined sacks in which oxygen and carbon dioxide gas are exchanged.LungsillustrationLung cancer - lateral chest x-ray - illustration A lateral view of a chest x-ray in a patient with central cancer of the lung.Lung cancer - lateral chest x-rayillustrationLung cancer - frontal chest X-ray - illustration A chest x-ray in a patient with central cancer of the right lung. Notice the white mass in the middle portion of the right lung (seen on the left side of the picture).Lung cancer - frontal chest X-rayillustrationAdenocarcinoma - chest x-ray - illustration This chest x-ray shows adenocarcinoma of the lung. There is a rounded light spot in the right upper lung (left side of the picture) at the level of the second rib. The light spot has irregular and poorly defined borders and is not uniform in density. Diseases that may cause this type of x-ray result would be tuberculous or fungal granuloma, and malignant or benign tumors.Adenocarcinoma - chest x-rayillustrationBronchial cancer - CT scan - illustration This chest CT scan shows a cross-section of a person with bronchial cancer. The two dark areas are the lungs. The light areas within the lungs represent the cancer.Bronchial cancer - CT scanillustrationBronchial cancer - chest X-ray - illustration This is a chest x-ray of a person with bronchial cancer. This is a front view. The lungs are the two dark areas. The heart and other structures are white areas visible in the middle of the chest. The light areas that appear as subtle branches extending from the center into the lungs are cancerous. Bronchial cancer - chest X-rayillustrationLung with squamous cell cancer - CT scan - illustration This CT scan shows a cross section of the lungs of a person with lung cancer. The two dark areas in the middle of the screen are the lungs. The light areas in the right lung (on the left of the screen) represent the cancer.Lung with squamous cell cancer - CT scanillustrationLung cancer - chemotherapy treatment - illustration Treatment for lung cancer depends on the type of cancer and the stage of the disease. Chemotherapy is a form of treatment for lung cancer which may cure, shrink or keep the cancer from spreading.Lung cancer - chemotherapy treatmentillustrationAdenocarcinoma - illustration Adenocarcinoma usually develops on the outer boundaries of the lungs and is more commonly found in women than in men.AdenocarcinomaillustrationNon-small cell carcinoma - illustration Non-small cell carcinomas are the most common lung cancers.Non-small cell carcinomaillustrationSmall cell carcinoma - illustration Small cell carcinoma, also called oat cell carcinoma, can create its own hormones, which alter body chemistry.Small cell carcinomaillustrationSquamous cell carcinoma - illustration Squamous cell carcinoma commonly starts in the bronchi and may not spread as rapidly as other lung cancers.Squamous cell carcinomaillustrationSecondhand smoke and lung cancer - illustration Secondhand smoke has been classified as a known cause of lung cancer in humans (Group A carcinogen).Secondhand smoke and lung cancerillustrationNormal lungs and alveoli - illustration The lungs are located in the chest cavity and are responsible for respiration. The alveoli are small sir sacs where oxygen is exchanged in the lungs.Normal lungs and alveoliillustrationRespiratory system - illustration Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs.Respiratory systemillustrationSmoking hazards - illustration Smoking cigarettes puts a person at risk for emphysema, lung cancer and other health problems. Second-hand smoke (smoke from a nearby cigarette) may also contribute to these diseases, especially among children.Smoking hazardsillustrationBronchoscope - illustration Lung or bronchial biopsy (tissue samples taken to diagnose or rule out disease) may be done with the use of a flexible bronchoscope, an instrument with a small light and camera which is inserted through the nose or mouth. When a suspicious area is seen, an instrument is channeled through the bronchoscope to take a sample for analysis.BronchoscopeillustrationA Closer Look Non-small cell lung cancer - InDepth(In-Depth)Lung cancer(Alt. Medicine)Breast cancer - InDepth(In-Depth)Melanoma and other skin cancers - InDepth(In-Depth)Prostate cancer - InDepth(In-Depth)Breast cancer(Alt. Medicine)Sickle cell disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Colon and rectal cancers - InDepth(In-Depth)Cervical cancer - InDepth(In-Depth)Green tea(Alt. Medicine) Tests for Lung cancer - small cell Antidiuretic hormone blood testRelated Information Tumor(Condition)Non-small cell lung cancer(Condition)Chemotherapy(Special Topic)Radiation therapy(Special Topic)Lung cancer(Condition)Chemotherapy - what to ask your doctor(Doctor Questions)Radiation therapy - questions to ask your doctor(Doctor Questions)Lung surgery - discharge (Discharge)Chest radiation - discharge(Discharge)Non-small cell lung cancer - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 8/28/2023 Reviewed By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Lung cancer - small cellCancer - lung - small cell; Small cell lung cancer; SCLCSmall cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a fast-growing type of lung cancer. It spreads much more quickly than non-small cell lung cancer.Lung cancerLung cancer is cancer that starts in the lungs. The lungs are located in the chest. When you breathe, air goes through your nose, down your windpipe...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Non-small cell lung cancerNon-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer. It usually grows and spreads more slowly than small cell lung cancer. There are t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersThere are two types of SCLC:Small cell carcinoma (oat cell cancer) Combined small cell carcinoma Most SCLCs are of the oat cell type. Causes About 15% of all lung cancer cases are SCLC. Small cell lung cancer is slightly more common in men than women.Almost all cases of SCLC are due to cigarette smoking. SCLC is very rare in people who have never smoked.SCLC is the most aggressive form of lung cancer. It usually starts in the breathing tubes (bronchi) in the center of the chest. Although the cancer cells are small, they grow very quickly and create large tumors. These tumors often spread rapidly (metastasize) to other parts of the body, including the brain, liver, and bone. Symptoms Symptoms of SCLC include:Bloody sputum (phlegm) Bloody sputumCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract). Hemoptysis is the medical term for cough...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chest pain Chest painChest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cough Loss of appetite Shortness of breath Shortness of breathBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Weight loss Weight lossUnexplained weight loss is a decrease in body weight, when you did not try to lose the weight on your own. Many people gain and lose weight. Uninten...Read Article Now Book Mark Article WheezingOther symptoms that may occur with this disease, especially in the late stages, include:Facial swelling Facial swellingFacial swelling is the buildup of fluid in the tissues of the face. Swelling may also affect the neck and upper arms.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fever Hoarseness or changing voice Hoarseness or changing voiceHoarseness refers to difficulty making sounds when trying to speak. Vocal sounds may be weak, breathy, scratchy, or husky, and the pitch or quality ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Swallowing difficulty WeaknessWeaknessWeakness is reduced strength in one or more muscles.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history. You will be asked whether you smoke, and if so, how much and for how long.When listening to your chest with a stethoscope, your provider may hear fluid around the lungs or areas where the lung has partially collapsed. Each of these findings may suggest cancer.CollapsedA collapsed lung occurs when air escapes from the lung. The air then fills the space outside of the lung between the lung and chest wall. This buil...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article SCLC has usually spread to other parts of your body by the time it is diagnosed.Tests that may be performed include:Bone scan Bone scanA bone scan is an imaging test used to diagnose bone diseases and find out how severe they are.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Chest x-ray Complete blood count (CBC) CBCA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan CT scanA chest CT (computed tomography) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the chest and upper abdomen....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function tests Liver function testsLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRI scan MRI scanA chest MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to create pictures of the chest (...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Positron emission tomography (PET) scan PETA lung positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test. It uses a radioactive substance (called a tracer) to look for disease in the lung...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sputum test (to look for cancer cells) Sputum testRoutine sputum culture is a laboratory test that looks for germs that cause infection. Sputum is the material that comes up from air passages when y...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Thoracentesis (removal of fluid from the chest cavity around the lungs)ThoracentesisThoracentesis is a procedure to remove fluid from the space between the lining of the outside of the lungs (pleura) and the wall of the chest....Read Article Now Book Mark Article In most cases, a piece of tissue is removed from your lungs or other areas to be examined under a microscope. This is called a biopsy. There are several ways to do a biopsy:Bronchoscopy combined with biopsy BronchoscopyBronchoscopy is a test to view the airways and diagnose lung disease. It may also be used during the treatment of some lung conditions.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BiopsyA biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.Read Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan-directed needle biopsy CT scan-directed needle biopsyA lung needle biopsy is a method to remove a piece of lung tissue for examination. If it is done through the wall of your chest, it is called a tran...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Endoscopic esophageal or bronchial ultrasound with biopsy Mediastinoscopy with biopsy Mediastinoscopy with biopsyMediastinoscopy with biopsy is a procedure in which a lighted instrument (mediastinoscope) is inserted in the space in the chest between the lungs (m...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open lung biopsy Open lung biopsyAn open lung biopsy is surgery to remove a small piece of tissue from the lung. The sample is then examined for cancer, infection, or lung disease....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pleural biopsy Pleural biopsyPleural biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of the pleura. This is the thin tissue that lines the chest cavity and surrounds the lungs. The bi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Video-assisted thoracoscopyVideo-assisted thoracoscopyLung surgery is surgery done to repair or remove lung tissue. There are many common lung surgeries, including:Biopsy of an unknown growth in or arou...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Usually, if a biopsy shows cancer, more imaging tests are done to find out the stage of the cancer. Stage means how big the tumor is and how far it has spread. SCLC is classified as either:Limited -- Cancer is only in the chest and can be treated with radiation therapy. Extensive -- Cancer has spread outside the area that can be covered by radiation therapy. Treatment Because SCLC spreads quickly throughout the body, treatment will include cancer-killing drugs (chemotherapy), which are usually given through a vein (by IV).ChemotherapyThe term chemotherapy is used to describe cancer-killing drugs. Chemotherapy may be used to:Cure the cancerShrink the cancerPrevent the cancer from ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and possibly radiation, may be done for people with SCLC that has spread throughout the body (extensive). In this case, the treatment only helps relieve symptoms and prolongs life, but does not cure the disease.RadiationRadiation therapy uses high-powered radiation (such as x-rays or gamma rays), particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Radiation therapy can be used with chemotherapy if the disease is confined to one area within the chest (limited).Radiation therapy uses powerful x-rays or other forms of radiation to kill cancer cells.Radiation may be used to:Treat the cancer, along with chemotherapy, if surgery is not possible. Help relieve symptoms caused by the cancer, such as breathing problems and swelling. Help relieve cancer pain when the cancer has spread to the bones.Often, SCLC may have already spread to the brain. This can occur even when there are no symptoms or other signs of cancer in the brain. As a result, some people with smaller cancers, or who had a good response in their first round of chemotherapy, may receive radiation therapy to the brain. This therapy is done to prevent spread of the cancer to the brain.Surgery helps very few people with SCLC because the disease has often spread by the time it is diagnosed. Surgery may be done when there is only one tumor that has not spread. If surgery is done, chemotherapy or radiation therapy is still needed. Support Groups You can ease the stress of illness by joining a cancer support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.Cancer support groupThe following organizations are good resources for information on cancer:American Cancer Society. Support and online communities. www. cancer. org/...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) How well you do depends on how much the lung cancer has spread. SCLC is very deadly. Not many people with this type of cancer are still alive 5 years after diagnosis.Treatment can often prolong life to more than 12 months, even when the cancer has spread.In rare cases, if SCLC is diagnosed early, treatment may result in a long-term cure. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have symptoms of lung cancer, particularly if you smoke. Prevention If you smoke, now is the time to quit. If you are having trouble quitting, talk with your provider. There are many methods to help you quit, from support groups to prescription medicines. Also try to avoid secondhand smoke.Support groupsIt is hard to quit smoking if you are acting alone. Smokers usually have a much better chance of quitting with a support program. Stop smoking prog...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Prescription medicinesNicotine replacement therapy is a treatment to help people stop smoking. It uses products that supply low doses of nicotine. These products do not ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If you smoke or used to smoke, talk with your provider about getting screened for lung cancer. To get screened, you need to have a CT scan of the chest.Open ReferencesReferencesAraujo LH, Horn L, Merritt RE, Shilo K, Xu-Welliver M, Carbone DP. Cancer of the lung: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 69.National Comprehensive Cancer Network website. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: Small cell lung cancer. Version 1.2024. www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/sclc.pdf. Updated September 5, 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023.National Cancer Institute website. Small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/lung/hp/small-cell-lung-treatment-pdq. Updated March 2, 2023. Accessed September 8, 2023.Rivera MP, Mody GN, Weiner AA. Lung cancer: treatment. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, Talmadge EK, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 77.