Usually only diagnosed in people who smoke (although not always), small cell lung cancer (SCLC) makes up for between 10 - 15% of all lung cancer cases diagnosed. But, although a lower percentage of people are affected with the disease, it is a much more aggressive form of lung cancer than that of non-small cell lung cancer.
Starting at the center of the chest, SCLC can quickly metastasize (spread) to other parts of the body, such as: the lymph nodes, the bones, the liver, and the brain. Because of its quick metastasis, surgery in not usually considered as an option for SCLC, as treatments such as: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and clinical trial treatments are preferred.
Radiation Therapy (Radiotherapy) - Uses high-energy rays to kill off cancerous cells by damaging their DNA and hindering their ability to both grow and divide. This is a particularly effective treatment for SCLC, as once the cancer realizes that its DNA has been damaged, its cells quickly begin to die and are eliminated from the body.
External Beam Radiation Therapy - Uses a linear accelerator, which is a machine capable of killing off cancerous cells by directing a precise beam of radiation in the body for a specific period of time, and is often the method chosen to treat SCLC. External beam radiation therapy is usually given 5-times a week, over a period of several weeks.
Often external beam radiation therapy is combined with chemotherapy to try to shrink the tumor to relieve the pain that a patient may be suffering, together with relieving the symptoms of persistent coughs, and shortness of breath, both which are common with SCLC.
Chemotherapy - Is the most widely used cancer treatment today, and is considered to be a viable option to treat SCLC by destroying its cells with the use of a combination of drugs, such as: carboplatin, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, etoposide, irinotecan or vincristine, which are administered in cycles every three to four weeks over a period of time depending on the staging of the lung cancer.
If after the first period of chemotherapy treatment the cancer continues to metastasize, chemotherapy may be given once again with a different combination of drugs, such as: docetaxle, gemcitabine, ifosfamide, paclitaxel, topotecan or vinorelbine, again in cycles over a further period of time.
Clinical Trial Treatment - A patient may decide to enroll in a clinical trial where other treatment options may be offered. These options usually consist of new treatments that are being researched, or existing treatments that are being used at present offered in new combinations or different doses. It is common for patients to opt for clinical trial treatments when existing or previous treatments have shown little or no success.
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