Since our last blog was all about Non Small Cell Cancer, it seems only fitting that this week brings you information about Small Cell Lung Cancer. Research tells us that 10% to 15% of all lung cancers are of a type known as small cell lung cancer.

It is very unusal for doctors to find this form of cancer in patients who have never smoked.  In fact, recent studies show that even second hand smoke can cause this disease. If you are reading this and you smoke, the threat of SCLC is like a red flag telling you to stop. If you are reading this and you have never smoked, the Florida Lung Doctors say, “Please do not start.” 

We know that SCLC makes its first home in the bronchi near the center of the chest. From that point, it travels throughout the body at a fairly rapid pace. This disease can spread any one of three ways:   

1.   The Pathway:  It invades the lung tissue.  

2.  The Highway:  It can move through the lymph system and the lymph vessels to new places in the body.

3.   The Freeway:   It can course through the body in the blood, conquering new territory as it flows through veins and capillaries.

According to the National Cancer Association, “When cancer cells break away from the primary (original) tumor and travel through the lymph or blood to other places in the body, another (secondary) tumor may form. This process is called metastasis. The secondary (metastatic) tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor.” 

So, even though a patient has SCLC in the lungs initially, it can metastasize anywhere.  If you wish to investigate more symptoms and treatments for this disease, we refer you to one of our favorite sources. 

There are stunning Statistics behind studies of Small Cell Lung Cancer.   SCLC patients vary depending on many different factors. In general, the survival rate for small cell lung cancer is quite low. For “limited stage small cell lung cancer,” the median survival with treatment is 18 to 24 months.

Sadly, the 5-year survival rate for limited stage disease is about14%. In cases of extensive stage small cell lung cancer, the median survival is 6 to 12 months with treatment, and only 2 to 4 months without treatment.

Although we can not cure it, Small Cell Lung Cancer is treatable. New drugs and treatments for the disease are being discovered and researched.