What are the four types of lung cancers?

Summary:

Cancer is a chronic medical ailment caused by the production and accumulation Orphan healthy cells in our body that lead to the formation of malignant tumours which damage the organ tissues and pose a serious threat to the patient's life. Cancer has been found to be the second leading cause of death following cardiovascular diseases. It is possible to treat cancer in the initial stages but as the problems proceeds, it leads to the rise of new complications making it very difficult to save the life of the patient. One of the most common types of cancer is lung cancer which is caused by the abnormal multiplication of cancerous cells in the lung tissue. Lung cancers can be majorly divided into two categories i.e non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The treatment for lung cancer is available in all the leading cancer treatment hospitals in Delhi. With the advent of radiation oncology in India, it has become easier to save the lives of Cancer patients. Dr Surender Kumar Dabas, one of the leading cancer Specialists and the most trusted name for lung cancer treatment in Delhi has been successful in treating innumerable patients suffering from lung cancer.

Article Story:

The lungs are a pair of spongy, air-filled organs located on either side of the chest cavity. These are protected by the rib cage. Lungs are a part of the respiratory system and help us to breathe. The air that we inhale passes through the lungs where it is mixed with oxygen and sent to different organs of the body with the help of the heart. Excessive pollution and unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking can severely affect our lungs and lead to serious problems like lung cancer. Lung cancer is a type of cancer which originates in the tissues of the lungs and leads to the excessive production of abnormal cells. These cancerous cells slowly replace all the healthy cells thereby severely damaging the organ tissue. In the initial stage the problem can be treated by using chemotherapy or radiation therapy, however, in chronic cases, surgical intervention may be required.

• Lung cancer can be triggered by a number of reasons. Smokers are at 25 per cent higher risk of developing lung cancer as compared to non-smokers. This is the reason why lung cancer is more common in men than in women. Tobacco smoke consists of nearly 7,000 different types of chemicals that have been found to be carcinogenic. Passive smoking also increases the chances of developing lung cancer by 24 per cent. A recent study has shown that of all the deaths caused by lung cancer every year, around 7,300 are caused by passive smoking.

• Asbestos fibre that was earlier used as both a thermal and acoustic insulation material is also considered to be a major culprit behind lung cancer. It has a tendency to remain in the lung tissue for a very long time and when accompanied by smoking, it drastically increases the chance of developing lung cancer.

• Radon gas nearly estimates for about 12 per cent cases of lung cancer. It can severely damage the lungs by causing the decay of the lung tissue.

• Lung cancer can also be genetic which means that it runs in the family and can be passed down to the children from their parents or grandparents.

• Another leading cause of lung cancer is air pollution. The air we breathe consists of a lot of impurities which can get accumulated in our lungs and lead to the development of lung cancer.
Lung cancer is majorly categorised into four different types. These are listed below:
Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)- These account for nearly 80-85 per cent of all the cases of lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer can be of three different types, adenocarcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and large cell carcinomas.

• Adenocarcinoma accounts for nearly 40 per cent of lung cancer. This usually originates in the lining of the lungs. Although the problem can affect both smokers and non-smokers, however, it is very common in the former. This type of cancer is more prevalent in women and young people.

• Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for nearly 25-30 per cent of lung cancer. It is commonly known as epidermoid carcinoma and originates in flat cells lining the interior wall of the various airways. The problem is also majorly linked to smoking.

• Large cell carcinoma accounts for nearly 10-15 per cent of lung cancer. It is one of the deadliest and most aggressive forms of cancer as it spreads at a very fast rate and can originate in any part of the lungs.

Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)- SCLC is popularly known as oat cell carcinoma. It accounts for approximately 15-20 per cent cases of lung cancer. The cancer is quite aggressive and spreads at a very fast rate. A tumour formed in such case is usually neuroendocrine and contains cells that are comparatively smaller in size.
Bronchogenic Carcinoma- Bronchogenic Carcinoma was initially used to describe lung cancers that originated in the bronchi, however, nowadays the term is used to describe all sorts of lung cancer.
Other types of lung cancer- Apart from the different types of cancers mentioned above, there are some more rare types of lung cancers that include lung carcinoid tumours and Mesothelioma.

The leading doctors for lung cancer treatment in Delhi recommend radiation treatment in the initial stages of the disease as it helps to kill all the cancerous cells and pave way for the growth of new healthy cells.