Small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer differences

Written by Xia Bao Jun

Pulmonology

Updated on January 27, 2025

00:00

00:00

Small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer are both types of primary bronchogenic carcinoma, differing only in their cellular morphology. They also differ in clinical symptoms and characteristics of metastasis. Small cell lung cancer is more prone to metastasis clinically, including strenuous and distant spread, such as to the brain and liver. The medications used for each are also different; small cell lung cancer typically involves chemotherapy drugs like etoposide and cisplatin, whereas non-small cell lung cancer commonly uses drugs like paclitaxel and platinum-based drugs.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Gong Chun

Oncology

47sec

home-news-image

Early stage lung cancer symptoms

The most common early symptom of lung cancer includes coughing, coughing up blood, difficulty breathing, and chest pain. However, when the tumor grows in the larger bronchi, it often causes an irritating cough, leading many people to mistake it for a cold. Therefore, if an irritating cough occurs, it should be taken very seriously. The second point is that as the tumor continues to grow and affects the drainage of the bronchi, there is often an increase in purulent sputum, and the amount of sputum may also increase from before. The third commonly seen symptom is bloody sputum, which might be spots of blood in the sputum, streaks of blood, or intermittent small amounts of coughed-up blood. Large amounts of blood in the sputum are very rare.

home-news-image

Written by Gong Chun

Oncology

1min 21sec

home-news-image

How is lung cancer detected?

For lung cancer detection, it is recommended for individuals over forty, especially smokers, to undergo a low-dose spiral CT for screening. Secondly, if someone has been a long-term heavy smoker and has undergone chest X-rays and low-dose spiral CT and a lung mass is found, it is suggested that the patient undergo a contrast-enhanced CT or a PET-CT to determine the condition and location of the lung mass. After establishing the condition and location, a sputum cytology test can be conducted. Thirdly, to confirm whether it is lung cancer, one should undergo bronchoscopy to obtain a biopsy, or a transthoracic lung puncture biopsy, or examine live tissue or metastatic lesions, or perform a pleural fluid examination to detect the cancer cells and determine the specific type of lung cancer to guide treatment. However, if the nature of the lesion cannot be clearly determined through mediastinoscopy, bronchoscopy, chest wall puncture biopsy, or other methods, a thoracotomy exploration is recommended. Additionally, the examination of tumor markers cannot be ignored.

home-news-image

Written by Gong Chun

Oncology

1min 13sec

home-news-image

Early symptoms of lung cancer

Early-stage lung cancer, especially peripheral lung cancer, often has no symptoms and is mostly found during chest X-rays or CT scans. The clinical symptoms of lung cancer are closely related to the location, size, pathological type of the tumor, whether it compresses or invades adjacent organs, and whether there is metastasis. The symptoms of lung cancer generally include: First, some symptoms of the primary tumor growing locally, including cough, hemoptysis, difficulty breathing, and chest pain. When the tumor grows inside a larger bronchus, it might cause some irritative coughing. Second, as the tumor continues to grow and affects the drainage of the bronchi, it may lead to secondary lung infections, presenting with symptoms such as cough and purulent sputum. Third, there might be bloody sputum streaked with blood or intermittent minor hemoptysis, though significant hemoptysis is very rare.

home-news-image

Written by Wang Chun Mei

Pulmonology

52sec

home-news-image

How to stop coughing and wheezing in the late stage of lung cancer

Lung cancer is a relatively common type of malignant lung tumor clinically. Due to the different specific types of lung cancer in different populations, the symptoms experienced by patients also vary. In the early stages of lung cancer, symptoms are generally characterized by irritative dry cough, hemoptysis, breathlessness, and chest tightness. As the tumor grows and metastasizes, patients in the later stages may experience varying degrees of coughing, wheezing, and expectoration. For such patients, the first step is to provide appropriate anti-infection treatment and oral administration of antispasmodic drugs. Inhalation of medications that relieve bronchospasm can also be chosen, both of which can achieve a certain effect in relieving cough and easing breathing.

home-news-image

Written by Yuan Qing

Pulmonology

1min 5sec

home-news-image

Is a cough indicative of lung cancer?

Lung cancer occurs when the tissue cells in the lungs lose their normal genetic regulation, mutations occur in the genes, and normal tissue cells grow disorderly, forming a disease characterized mainly by tumors, known as lung cancer. The clinical manifestations of lung cancer can include choking cough, cough, coughing up blood, fever, weight loss, and other symptoms. However, it does not necessarily mean that a choking cough is definitely lung cancer. For example, conditions like bronchitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and even pneumonia and lung infections can cause choking coughs. Some colds may also present symptoms of choking cough. Therefore, a choking cough is not necessarily indicative of lung cancer. It is essential to consider the patient's age, occupation, smoking history, and if available, to combine this information with chest X-rays to make a comprehensive determination of whether it is lung cancer.