Experts help you understand small cell lung cancer

Small cell lung cancer can have a great impact on patients. Many people do not know the severity of this disease, so they do not receive timely treatment in the early stages. What kind of disease is this? The following experts will show you what kind of disease small cell lung cancer is!

Pathologically, SCLC can be divided into: small cell lung cancer (including the previous oat cell carcinoma) and mixed carcinoma (i.e. a mixture of small cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma).

The most commonly used staging system in the field of SCLC treatment is the SCLC staging system developed by the Lung Cancer Research Group of the Veterans Affairs Hospital of the United States: if the tumor is confined to one side of the chest cavity (including the regional lymph nodes draining from it, such as the ipsilateral hilar, mediastinal or supraclavicular lymph nodes) and can be included in a radiotherapy field, it is limited stage (Limited Disease, LD); if the tumor exceeds the limited stage range, it is extensive stage (Extensive Disease, ED), of which the former accounts for about 1/3 and the latter accounts for 2/3. This staging method is simple and easy to use, and is related to treatment efficacy and prognosis. The TNM staging is currently also used for the staging of SCLC.

Smoking is the main risk factor for small cell lung cancer, and SCLC is closely related to smoking. According to a summary analysis of smoking and lung cancer worldwide from 1970 to 1999, lung cancer is positively correlated with smoking intensity (amount of smoking) and duration, and the relationship with SCLC is most obvious.

It is generally believed that small cell lung cancer originates from Kulchitsky cells (argentophilic cells) in the bronchial mucosa or glandular epithelium and belongs to APUD (amine precursor uptake decarboxylation) tumor. Some people also believe that it originates from stem cells in the bronchial mucosal epithelium that can differentiate into neuroendocrine. Small cell lung cancer is the least differentiated and most malignant type of lung cancer. It often occurs in the central part of the lung, grows rapidly, and metastasizes early. Under a light microscope, the cancer cells are small and short spindle-shaped or lymphocyte-like, with little cytoplasm and a naked nucleus.

Patients should eat a light diet during chemotherapy, avoid greasy, indigestible and fried foods. Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, eat small meals frequently, and combine foods reasonably, diversify the diet, and eat a balanced diet. During the intervals between radiotherapy and chemotherapy, pay attention to avoid fatigue, rest, and regular work and rest to avoid infection.