Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) : Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prognosis for Non Small Cell Carcinoma.

What is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)?

Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for about 80% of lung cancers. There are several types of non-small cell lung cancer -with each type of non-small cell lung cancer being associated with a uniquely different type of cancer cells.

These cancer cells differ from each other in terms of how they grow and spread.

Naming of various types on-small cell lung cancers, therefore, is based on how those cells appear when observed using a microscope.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers are usually classified into the following sub-categories:

• Adenocarcinoma: Lung Cancer involving the outer regions of the lung. This type of lung cancer begins in the cells that have glandular (secretory) properties.
• Adenosquamous Carcinoma: This type of lung cancer begins in cells that not only look flattened when viewed under a microscope, they also have glandular (secretory) properties.
• Carcinoid Tumor: This type of lung cancer results in a slow-growing neuroendocrine tumor. It begins in cells that are capable of releasing a hormone in response to a stimulus provided by the nervous system.
• Large-cell Undifferentiated Carcinoma: This type of lung cancer appears in any part of the lung, often grows and spreads rather quickly. Cells that results in Large Cell Carcinoma are usually large and appear rather abnormal when viewed under a microscope.
• Pleomorphic, Sarcomatoid, or Sarcomatous Carcinoma: This group of lung cancers involves cells that appear to be abnormal when viewed under a microscope.
• Salivary Gland Carcinoma: This type of lung cancer begins in salivary gland cells located inside the large airways of the lung.
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Usually caused by smoking, and commonly found near the bronchus, this type of lung cancer usually occurs centrally within the lungs. It begins in squamous cells -the cells that appear to be thin, flat, and look like fish scales. This lung cancer is also known as epidermoid carcinoma.
• Unclassified Carcinoma: This catchall lung cancer classification includes cancers that does not fit into any of the aforementioned lung cancer categories/groups.

Sometimes lung cancer exhibits signs and features of both -the Small Cell Carcinoma and Large Cell Carcinoma. In that case, the lung cancer is called Mixed Small Cell/Large Cell Carcinoma or MSCLC lung cancer.

Additional information available on: Lung Cancer Causes, Lung Cancer Risk Factors, Lung Cancer Early Signs, Lung Cancer Symptoms, Lung Cancer Early Diagnosis, Staging of Lung Cancer Tumors, Lung Cancer Treatment, Lung Cancer Vaccine, Lung Cancer Prognosis, Small Cell Lung Cancer, - SCLC, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer - NSCLC, Mixed Small Cell/Large Cell Lung Cancer, Asbestos, Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer Caused by Asbestos Exposure, Pleural Mesothelioma, Peritoneal Mesothelioma, Pericardial Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Mesothelioma Symptoms, Mesothelioma Treatment, Mesothelioma Drugs, Mesothelioma Surgery, Mesothelioma Chemotherapy Drugs, and Mesothelioma Radiation Therapy.

Visit our Lung Disease reference page for additional information on various lung related health issues. Also check out cancer news for the latest Non Small Cell Carcinoma Treatment News, and Lung Cancer Articles Library for additional Non Small Cell Carcinoma NSCLC Related Articles.

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