Small-cell lung cancer is the most aggressive form of lung cancer, and is almost always associated with cigarette smoking. Only 5 to 8 percent of patients with this disease are candidates for surgery, because in the great majority of patients the disease has spread too far within the body to be removed with surgery. The main treatment for SCLC is chemotherapy. This type of cancer often spreads to the brain, so treatment may include prophylactic irradiation of the head.
Patients with SCLC are classified as having either limited or extensive disease. The definition of limited disease varies by cancer center, but it is typically considered to be confined to one side of the chest, including the lymph nodes. Extensive disease has spread beyond this area.
Paraneoplastic Syndromes
Patients with SCLC often experience cancer-related conditions called paraneoplastic syndromes. These syndromes are caused by chemicals released by the tumor cells themselves or by the effects of tumor growth on the body. One such condition, called syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), causes sodium levels in the blood to drop to dangerously low levels, resulting in fatigue, muscle weakness and cramps, nausea and vomiting.
If SIADH isn't treated, a person may have seizures and fall into a coma. Abnormal blood clots are another syndrome, as are symptoms caused by brain degeneration including loss of balance and unsteadiness in moving the limbs.
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