Non-small-cell lung cancer is actually a term that encompasses three different diseases, all of which are treated similarly: squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma each account for 30 to 40 percent of cases of the disease, while 10 percent of NSCLCs are large cell. Adenocarcinoma is the most common form in non-smokers. All types of NSCLC are grouped under the same system for staging and tumor classification.
The decision on how to treat NSCLC depends on the stage of disease and the tumor classification, as well as on a patient's overall health and lung function. In the early stages, these cancers are treated with surgery. Although surgery is highly effective, fewer than one-third of patients with NSCLC have operable cancers.
Some patients may receive radiation therapy along with surgery, and patients whose cancers are determined to be inoperable are given radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. Some patients with NSCLC may also be given chemotherapy, usually cisplatin-based.
Paraneoplastic Syndromes
People with NSCLC may develop cancer-related conditions known as paraneoplastic syndromes. Peptides or proteins or hormone-like chemicals released by tumor cells may cause these syndromes. For example, hypercalcemia is not uncommon, particularly in squamous cell cancer, and can produce constipation, frequent urination and neurological symptoms including dizziness and confusion; abnormal bone growth, especially at the fingertips; blood clotting; and breast growth in men.
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