It is made up of small cells that reproduce quickly and form large tumors that make their way throughout the body. Almost all cases of small-cell lung cancer are due to smoking. There are two main types of small-cell lung cancer that contain many different forms of cells, small cell carcinoma (oat cell cancer) and combined small cell carcinoma. Each cell is unique with different growing patterns and ways of spreading. Small-cell lung cancer can spread three ways. It can move through the tissue it started in nearby body parts. Then there is the way it can spread from where it started and into the blood vessels, moving throughout the body. Last is spreading in the lymph system. The cancer moves from the original spot into the lymph system and makes its way around the body with the lymph vessels. The names of the forms of small-cell lung cancer originate from the types of cells in the cancer and how the cells look like under a microscope. Most cells are tiny and …show more content…
It all depends on stage of cancer, type, age of patient, and others. There is no definite cure for lung cancer. Most treatments are a combinations of each other. Like most cancers the treatment for lung cancer is radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. Surgery was the first ever treatment for cancer. If a cancer is still in stage I or II and has not yet progressed, there is a chance to cure a patient by surgically detaching the tumor. If the cancerous cells have spread, it is almost not possible to get rid of them. After removing the cancer, the lungs are watched to see if cancer cells are still there. Pain and infection are side effects of surgery. Doctors usually try to cease the pain with different techniques. Like for any other infection, antibiotics are used to alleviate any