Overview Non-small cell lung cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the lung.
The lungs are a pair of cone-shaped breathing organs in the chest. The lungs bring oxygen into the body as you breathe in. They release carbon dioxide, a waste product of the body’s cells, as you breathe out. Each lung has sections called lobes. The left lung has two lobes. The right lung is slightly larger and has three lobes. Two tubes called bronchi lead from the trachea (windpipe) to the right and left lungs. The bronchi are sometimes also involved in lung cancer. Tiny air sacs called alveoli and small tubes called bronchioles make up the inside of the lungs.
A thin membrane called the pleura covers the outside of each lung and lines the inside wall of the chest cavity. This creates a sac called the pleural cavity. The pleural cavity normally contains a small amount of fluid that helps the lungs move smoothly in the chest when you breathe.
Tumor Types Each type of non-small cell lung cancer has different kinds of cancer cells. The cancer cells of each type grow and spread in different ways. The types of non-small cell lung cancer are named for the kinds of cells found in the cancer and how the cells look under a microscope:
• Squamous cell carcinoma: Cancer that begins in squamous cells, which are thin, flat cells that look like fish scales. This is also called epidermoid carcinoma. • Large cell carcinoma: Cancer that may begin in several types of large cells. • Adenocarcinoma: Cancer that begins in the cells that line the alveoli and make substances such as mucus.
Other less common types of non-small cell lung cancer are: pleomorphic, carcinoid tumor, salivary gland carcinoma, and unclassified carcinoma.
Symptoms Sometimes lung cancer does not cause any symptoms and is found during a routine chest x-ray. Symptoms may be caused by lung cancer or by other conditions. Consult a doctor if any of the following problems occur:
• A cough that doesn’t go away. • Trouble breathing. • Chest discomfort. • Wheezing. • Streaks of blood in sputum (mucus coughed up from the lungs). • Hoarseness. • Loss of appetite. • Weight loss for no known reason. • Feeling very tired.
Treatment The type of treatment selected will depend upon tumor type and cancer stage as well as your general health. Nine types of treatment are commonly used for non-small cell lung cancer: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, laser therapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), cryosurgery, electrocautery, and watchful waiting.
