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.
The 5-year survival rate for men is 18%. The 5-year survival rate for women is 25%. The 5-year survival rate for NSCLC is 26%, compared to 7% for small cell lung cancer. However, it is important to note that survival rates depend on several factors, including the subtype of lung cancer and the stage of disease.
Small Cell Lung Cancer
It is a fast-growing cancer that spreads much more quickly than other types of lung cancer. There are two different types of small cell lung cancer: Small cell carcinoma (oat cell cancer; most small cell lung cancers are of the oat cell type)
Large-cell (undifferentiated) carcinoma.
It tends to grow and spread quickly, so it can be harder to treat than the other types.
Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)
These cancers are the most aggressive form of lung cancer and usually affect smokers. SCLC spreads rapidly, often before people notice symptoms. The cancer usually starts in the central airways of the lungs (bronchi).
While it's possible for lung cancer to spread virtually anywhere, it most commonly metastasizes in the liver, brain, bones or adrenal glands.
The types of cancer that most often spread to the lungs include breast, colon, rectum, head and neck, kidney, testicular and uterine cancers as well as lymphomas. Other types of cancer can also spread to the lungs but do so less often.
The stage of lung cancer is the most important prognostic factor. Early stages of non-small lung cancer (stages 0 and 1) have a better prognosis than later stages (stages 2, 3 or 4). With small cell lung cancer, limited stage cancers have a better prognosis than extensive stage cancers.
Because stage 0 NSCLC is limited to the lining layer of the airways and has not invaded deeper into the lung tissue or other areas, it is usually curable by surgery alone. No chemotherapy or radiation therapy is needed.
The rate at which lung cancer spreads varies from patient to patient. But, generally speaking, lung cancer is typically a cancer that grows quickly and spreads early.
The five-year survival rate for lung cancer is 56 percent for cases detected when the disease is still localized (within the lungs). However, only 16 percent of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage. For distant tumors (spread to other organs) the five-year survival rate is only 5 percent.
About 2 in 5 people with the condition live for at least 1 year after they're diagnosed, and about 1 in 10 people live at least 10 years. However, survival rates vary widely, depending on how far the cancer has spread at the time of diagnosis. Early diagnosis can make a big difference.
Survival for all stages of lung cancer
around 40 out of every 100 people (around 40%) survive their cancer for 1 year or more. around 15 out of every 100 people (around 15%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more. 10 out of every 100 people (10%) will survive their cancer for 10 years or more.
Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death , making up almost 25% of all cancer deaths. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.
The NCI add that over half of people who receive a diagnosis of localized lung cancer will live for 5 years or longer following diagnosis. As diagnosis and treatment strategies improve, more people are surviving for a decade or longer with the condition.
Symptoms that are common towards the end of life in lung cancer include pain, dyspnoea, delirium and respiratory secretions. Such symptoms need to be anticipated and addressed promptly with appropriate medications and explanations to the patient and family.
Lung carcinoid tumors are uncommon and tend to grow slower than other types of lung cancers. They are made up of special kinds of cells called neuroendocrine cells. They are usually classified as typical or atypical carcinoids. Carcinoids are very rare, slow-growing and most commonly treated with surgery.
Radiation therapy
It's often combined with chemotherapy treatments. If surgery isn't an option, combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be your primary treatment. For advanced lung cancers and those that have spread to other areas of the body, radiation therapy may help relieve symptoms, such as pain.
Stage III (updated 12/2021)
Stage III lung cancers are classified as either stage IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC. The stage is based on the size of the tumor and which lymph nodes the cancer has spread to. Stage III cancers have not spread to other distant parts of the body.
For patients who have small, early-stage lung cancer, the cure rate can be as high as 80% to 90%. Cure rates drop dramatically as the tumor becomes more advanced and involves lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
Rapid growing, with a doubling time of less than 183 days: 15.8% Typical, with a doubling time of 183 to 365 days: 36.5% Slow growing, with a doubling time of over 365 days: 47.6%
Studies have shown that lung cancer doubling time can vary, from 229 days to 647 days in one study, depending upon the type. 7 It's possible that some types of lung cancer progress within weeks to months, while others may take years to grow.
Compared to the main bronchus, upper lobes are more likely to contain lung metastatic and brain metastatic. The lung metastatic is mainly contralateral upper lung region metastases. Additionally, the majority of invasive pulmonary ADC often occur in the upper lobes. ADC and SCC often occur in the upper lobes.