Lung Cancer Types
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
� The most common types of lung cancer include lung nodules , non-small cell lung cancer , small cell lung cancer and mesothelioma . � Rare lung cancers often don ' t originate in the lung . � Rare lung cancers vary according to size , recommended treatment options and rate of metastasis .
The most common types of lung cancer are those found right in the lungs . Other rarer types of cancer may also occur in the lungs and chest wall .
Lung Nodules
Lung nodules are small masses of tissue . They may be benign , precancerous or metastatic tumors that have spread from other parts of the body . Generally , a larger nodule is more likely to be cancerous than a smaller one .
Lung nodules are often found when a patient is being tested for unrelated symptoms , such as abdominal pain or an injury .
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer . It grows and spreads more slowly than small cell lung cancer . The three main kinds of non-small cell lung cancer are named for the type of cells in the tumor :
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Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer in the United States and usually begins along the outer sections of the lungs . It is also the most common type of lung cancer in people who have never smoked . Large cell carcinomas are a group of cancers with large , abnormal-looking cells . These tumors may begin anywhere in the lungs and tend to grow quickly . Squamous cell carcinoma is also called epidermoid carcinoma . It often begins in the bronchi near the middle of the lungs .
For non-small cell lung cancers that have not spread beyond the lung , surgery is used to remove the cancer . Surgery may also be used in combination with radiation therapy and chemotherapy in cancers that are more advanced . These treatments can also be given prior to surgery to shrink tumors and prevent the spread of cancer cells through the blood stream . This is called neoadjuvant therapy .