Small Cell Lung Cancer Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Small Cell Lung Cancer?

Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) is a type of cancer that originates in the lungs, and is often found in people who have a history of smoking. It is an aggressive form of cancer that can spread quickly throughout the body, and can be difficult to treat.The most common symptom of SCLC is a persistent cough, usually accompanied by chest pain. Other symptoms may include weight loss, fatigue, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, and difficulty swallowing. If left unchecked, SCLC can spread to other organs such as the brain or bones. Diagnosing SCLC typically involves imaging tests such as chest X-rays or CT scans to get an accurate picture of where the tumors are located. The next step would be tissue biopsies to determine if it is small cell or non-small cell lung cancer. Treatment for SCLC typically includes chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. In some cases surgery may be recommended if the tumor has not spread too far away from the original site in the lungs. In advanced cases where tumors have spread beyond those boundaries, medications known as targeted therapies may be used to help slow down their growth rate or shrink them in size so they don’t cause further damage elsewhere in the body. Unfortunately due to its aggressive nature and tendency for rapid metastasis there are many patients who will succumb to this condition before treatment can begin or even after starting treatments depending on how far it has already progressed at diagnosis time. That being said with early detection success rates for treatment are much higher making prevention even more important then ever ,so it’s always best practice for smokers especially those who have been using tobacco products for years quit now and get tested regularly .