Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung Cancer Overview

Small cell lung cancer is the most aggressive type of lung cancer. The cancer cells rapidly proliferate to nearby or distant sites around the lungs and if left untreated, the patient will only last for a few months. The proliferation is rapid that the cancer is usually detected at the advance stage and the metastases of the cancer cells are already widespread.

Due to the rapid metastatic nature, the small cell lung cancer treatment must be aggressive. The best Small cell lung cancer treatment is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy (cancer-killing drugs) may be given orally or thru injections. Chemotherapy as small cell lung cancer treatment may be combined with radiation therapy of the lungs especially when the metastasis and stage of the cancer is limited.

The selection of drug and treatment for small cell lung cancer depends on the stage of the cancer (limited or extensive stage). Chemo drugs are given at interval because they do not only target the cancer cells but they also target the normal cells. The interval of chemotherapy treatment gives chance to the bone marrow to reproduce cells. In the United States, the most common small cell lung cancer treatment drugs are Etoposide combined with Carboplatin or Cisplatin both for limited and extensive stage of small cell lung cancer.

Etoposide is an anti-tumor medication that is effective in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells by destroying the genetic material, the DNA strand of the cell. Two common Etoposide are the VePesid and Toposar. Cisplatin is an intravenous medication that breaks the DNA strand to interfere with cell growth. Carboplatin has similar action with Cisplatin but is better tolerated by many patients because it has lesser side effects.

Other chemotherapy drugs for both small cell lung cancer and non small cell lung cancer treatment includes: Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), Vincristine (Oncovin), Paclitaxel (Taxol), Doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Rubex), Topotecan (Hycamtin) and many others. All these chemo drugs are used in combination to increase the caner cell killing effect.

When a small cell lung cancer diagnosis is on the late stage, the small cell lung cancer prognosis of the patient is poor. If the patient does not undergo treatment, the usual or average survival is within 2 months to 4 months only. If the disease becomes extensive, the survival can reach up to 6 to 12 months. A small cell lung cancer patient on the limited stage can last up to two years without small cell lung cancer remission. Statistics for small cell lung cancer shows that this type of lung cancer only shows a survival rate of less than 20% in a five year period.

Small cell carcinoma of the lungs is indeed a very deadly disease that is often incurable and the only treatment given is supportive treatment to alleviate pain and reduce the symptoms. Small cell lung cancer support is readily available to patients. These can be provided by the cancer organizations: American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute and Cancer Care.