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Small Cell Lung Cancer

Definition

Small Cell Lung Cancer Small cell lung cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the lung. Small cell lung cancer is usually an aggressive cancer, with two-thirds of patients having the disease spread to another part of the body at the time of diagnosis.

Risk Factors

Smoking tobacco is the major risk factor for developing small cell lung cancer. Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. Risk factors for small cell lung cancer include:
  • Smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes now or in the past.
  • Being exposed to second hand smoke.
  • Being exposed to asbestos or radon.

Symptoms

These and other symptoms may be caused by small cell lung cancer or by other conditions. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:
  • A cough that doesn’t go away.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Chest pain that doesn’t go away.
  • Wheezing.
  • Coughing up blood.
  • Hoarseness.
  • Swelling of the face and neck.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Unexplained weight loss.
  • Unusual tiredness.

Diagnosis

Treatment and diagnosis of small cell lung cancer occurs in the U-M Cancer Center's Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Clinic.

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Tests and procedures that examine the lungs are used to detect (find) and diagnose small cell lung cancer. The following tests and procedures may be used:

Chest x-ray:
An x-ray of the organs and bones inside the chest. An x-ray is a type of energy beam that can go through the body and onto film, making a picture of areas inside the body.

Physical exam and history:
An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient’s health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.

Sputum cytology:
A procedure in which a pathologist views a sample of sputum (mucus coughed up from the lungs) under a microscope, to check for cancer cells.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the lung:
The removal of part of a lump or suspicious tissue from the lung, using a thin needle. This procedure is also called needle biopsy. Ultrasound or another imaging procedure is used to locate the abnormal tissue in the lung. A small incision may be made in the skin where the biopsy needle is inserted into the abnormal tissue. A sample is removed with the needle and sent to the laboratory. A pathologist then views the sample under a microscope to look for cancer cells.

Bronchoscopy:
A procedure to look inside the trachea (windpipe) and large airways in the lung for abnormal areas. A bronchoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is inserted through the nose or mouth into the trachea and lungs. Tissue samples may be taken for biopsy.

Thoracentesis:
The removal of fluid from the space between the lining of the chest and the lung, using a needle. A pathologist views the fluid under a microscope to look for cancer cells.

Treatment

Treatment of small cell lung cancer depends on the stage of the disease and the general health of the person with the disease.

For patients with disease involving only one lung and lymphnodes within the middle of the chest (limited-stage disease), treatment usually involves the use of chemotherapy and radiation therapy used together. With this type of aggressive treatment, most patients have very good shrinkage of the cancer with improvement in symptoms and some patients can be cured of the disease.

For patients with disease that has spread to another part of the body (extensive-stage disease), treatment usually consists of chemotherapy which can usually shrink the cancer and improve symptoms for some time, but cannot cure the disease.

Prognosis / Recovery

Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.

The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following:

  • The stage of the cancer (whether it is in the chest cavity only or has spread to other places in the body).
  • The patient’s general health.

If lung cancer is found, participation in one of the many clinical trials being done to improve treatment should be considered. Clinical trials are taking place in most parts of the country for patients with all stages of small cell lung cancer. Information about ongoing lung cancer clinical trials at the U-M Cancer Center is avialable on the engage website. Information on trials nation-wide is available from the NCI Web site.

For more information

Visit the National Cancer Institute's web page on small cell lung cancer treatment.

If you have questions, please contact Cancer AnswerLine at 800-865-1125.

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last updated 9/2007


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University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
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Ann Arbor, MI 48109

This site is part of the U-M Health System. The information presented is not a tool for self diagnosis or a substitute for professional care. © 2008 U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center