NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER (con't)
Overview of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Types of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer:
There are two main types of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. The names refer to the type of cells found in the tumor rather than the size of the tumor.
The types and subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer are:
- squamous cell carcinoma (also called epidermoid carcinoma)
- spindle cell variant
- adenocarcinoma
- acinar
- papillary
- bronchioalveolar (bronchoalveolar carcinoma)
- solid tumor with mucin/mucinous (colloid) carcinoma
- large cell carcinoma
- giant cell
- clear cell
- adenosquamous carcinoma
- pancoast tumors (superior sulcus tumors)
- undifferentiated carcinoma
Stages of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer:
Stages I and II are considered early-stage lung cancer.
Stage I
Stage I cancer is located only in the lung and has not spread to the lymph nodes
Stage II
Stage II cancer has spread to the nearby lymph nodes or to the chest wall, diaphragm, mediastinal pleura (the thin membrane that covers the area between the lungs, or the parietal pericardium (the outer layer of tissue that surrounds the heart).
- Stage II lung cancer is divided into stage IIA and stage IIB, based on the size of the tumor and whether it was spread to the lymph nodes.
Stages III
Stage III cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the area in the middle of the chest that separates the two lungs (mediastinum); or to the lymph nodes on the other side of the chest or in the neck.
- Stage IIIA - usually can be operated on.
- Stage IIIB - usually cannot be operated on.
Stage IV
Stage IV cancer has spread to distant organs (such as the liver, brain or bones).
Recurrent
Cancer has recurred after it has been treated. It may recur in the lung or in another part of the body.
Metastatic Lung Cancer:
- Lung cancer with bone metastases
- Lung cancer with liver metastases
- Lung cancer with brain metastases
- Lung cancer with skin metastases
Grade of Vulvar Cancer:
Grade indicates how quickly or slowly cancer cells grow. The grade is determined by the appearance of the cells under the microscope. Tumors are graded on a scale of 1 to 3.
Grade 1 - cells look most like normal tissue (called well differentiated or low-grade).
Grade 2 - cells look somewhat like normal tissue (called moderately well differentiated or moderate grade).
Grade 3 - cells appear very abnormal (called poorly differentiated or undifferentiated or high-grade). They are likely to grow more quickly and more likely to spread.
