Lung Cancer

What is Lung Cancer?

Lungs are an important part of the breathing system. Two lungs, each with its own set of parts, make up the breathing system. The left lung only has two lobes, while the right lung has three. The pleura is a thin skin that covers the lungs to keep them safe. There are cells in the lungs that do change. They can get bigger or stop working properly. Different types of these cells can turn into tumors, some of which are normal and not dangerous. These cells can hurt close cells and move to other parts of the body, which can lead to lung cancer.

Cancer of the lung can be either primary or secondary, based on where it starts. Primary lung tumors start in one place and spread to the lungs. Secondary lung tumors begin in another part of the body and spread to the lungs. It is also further split into two types based on how the cancer cells look under a microscope: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer.

It’s all about lung cancer

What kinds of lung cancer are there?
An important part of the breathing system is the lungs. Lung cells do change; they can get bigger or stop working properly. Some of these cells can turn into normal tumors that are not cancerous, and some can turn into deadly tumors. These cells can hurt nearby cells and also move to other parts of the body. There are different kinds and grades of lung cancer.

The type of lung cancer a person has can help doctors figure out what kind of cell the cancer began in. There are two main types of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Different types of lung cancer can also come from different places in the body. Lung cancer that starts in the lungs is called primary lung cancer. Lung cancer that starts in another part of the body and spreads to the lungs is called secondary lung cancer.

Type 2 small cell lung cancer
Small cells that divide very quickly and grow into big tumors that spread all over the body are what this type of cancer is known for. People who smoke often get this type of cancer. It’s also known as oat-cell cancer, and it makes up 10–15 percent of all lung cancers.

Lung cancer that isn’t small cell
About 80% of lung cancer cases are non-small cell lung cancer, which is further divided into four types based on the type of cell that caused the cancer.

Breast cancer
Adenocarcinoma most often happens to women who don’t smoke and affects the glands that make mucus.

Alveolar cancer of the bronchi
This kind of cancer grows close to the lungs’ air sacs.

Cancer of the squamous cells
People who smoke often get squamous cell cancer in the walls of their bronchial tubes.

Cancer of large cells
Large cell carcinomas grow on the outside of the lungs, near the surface. Not many people get this kind of cancer.

Not just one kind of lung cancer
Pancoast growths
Tumors that grow on top of the lungs are called pancoast tumors.

The mesothelioma
You can get mesothelioma, a type of cancer that affects the lining of your lungs.