by Jennifer Kirkman

Created on: October 08, 2009

There are separate types of lung cancers, hence they are not all the same. My article here takes a look at what these individual types are.

Any type of lung cancer is entitled as a bronchogenic carcinoma. This covers two types of lung cancers. There is the small cell lung cancer, and then we have the non-small cell lung cancer. The one that is the more aggressive and powerful are the small cell lung cancers. These are the types that come from smoking cigarettes, and those that are exposed to secondhand smoke.

Non-small cell lung cancers are the more common ones. These make up at least 80 percent of people. Non-small cell lung cancers are titled based upon which of the cells are involved in the cancer. Let's sort these out:

Adenocarcinomas are within the outer portion of the lungs. The bronchioloalveolar is in the class of adenocarcinoma types. This type is one that comes up all over the lungs in many places. It is also aggressive and spreads into the alveolar walls.Adenocarcinomas make up about 50 percent of lung cancers.

Squamous cell carcinomas are the lesser common lung cancers. They make up about 30 percent and they are most commonlly seen within the walls of the chest.

Another rare type of lung cancer is bronchial carcinoids. They only make up a very small percentage of lung cancers found.

Symptoms of lung cancers in general are, (1) a cough that is persistent and does not go away, (2) coughing up any amount of blood, (3) wheezing, (4) feeling very short of breath, (5) chest pains, (6) changes in your cough, and a (7) a hoarse voice.

Other risks for lung cancers besides smoking as the main cause, is exposure to heavy chemicals in occupations, family history of lung cancers, and if you have exposure to any radon gas.

Stages of the small cell lung cancers are:

Cancer is limited and contained within one lung and the lymph nodes surrounding it.

Cancer is extensive which means that the cancer is more invasive, and gone further through more lymph nodes and possibly other organs in the body are affected.

Stages of Non-small cell lung cancers are:

Stage 1-The cancer is seen in the underlying lung tissue. It has not yet become part of your lymph nodes.

Stage 2-This means that the cancer has advanced itself to lymph nodes and has also become a part of the wall of your chest.

Stage 3A is yet more serious. This means that the cancer cells are now actively claiming your lymph nodes more aggressively along with the lungs.

Stage 3B means that not only is it going as I stated in 3A, but is now involved with the blood vessel areas, heart, and lymph nodes too.

In Stage IV the cancer has now taken center stage and is throughout the whole body and includes the brain.

Early treatment in any type of lung cancer is urgent as the sooner it is detected the better outcome. If not, it is eventually fatal claiming many lives yearly.

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