What is small cell lung carcinoma?
Small cell carcinoma has, in the past, been called oat cell cancer because the cells resemble oats when seen under a microscope. A fast-growing type of lung cancer, small cell carcinoma usually spreads faster than non-small cell lung cancer. There are three different types of small cell lung cancer: • Small cell carcinoma, which is the most common. • Mixed small cell/large cell carcinoma. • Combined small cell carcinoma. According to the American Cancer Society, small cell carcinoma accounts for about 15 percent of all lung cancer cases. Small cell lung cancer usually starts in or near the lung’s bronchi. The cells can quickly grow into large tumors that can rapidly spread to the brain, liver, bones, and other parts of the body. There are about 175,000 new cases of small cell carcinoma each year. The cancer has already spread beyond the lungs in about 70 percent of cases. The cancer spreads easily because of the constant flow of blood and lymph through the lungs. The fluids can carry c
