What's the Difference Between Small Cell Lung Cancer and Non Small Cell Lung Cancer?

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07/14/23

In this lung cancer screening video you will learn the answers to these questions:
1. What is the difference between small cell lung cancer and non small cell lung cancer?
2. What are the latest treatment options for small cell lung cancer/
3. How can members of the Black community be sure they are getting the latest treatment?

Lung Cancer patient/advocate, Brandi Bryant sat down with Dr. Raymond Osarogiagbon to get some answers to questions that people frequently ask about small cell and non small cell lung cancers. Brandi is member of the Lung Cancer Foundation of America Speakers Bureau and Dr. Osarogiagbon sits on Lung Cancer Foundation of America’s Scientific Advisory Board.

Difference Between Small Cell Lung Cancer and Non Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small cell lung cancer is a more aggressive, but less common, form of lung cancer. About 15% of all lung cancer cases in the United States are small cell lung cancer. The treatment plans for small cell lung cancer are different from non small cell lung cancer.

A patient with non small cell lung cancer is evaluated to determine if surgery would be the best and most effective initial treatment. With small cell lung cancer, surgery is much less common, although with the ability to detect lung cancers earlier and earlier, there are some instances where surgery is an option, followed by chemotherapy. With some non small cell lung cancer patients who have surgery as treatment, there may be no need to follow up with chemotherapy.

Small Cell Lung Cancer: Latest in Treatment

The ability to sometimes offer surgery to small cell lung cancer patients as treatment is an exciting advancement in treatments. Even more exciting is the fact that adding immunotherapy to chemotherapy for extensive stage small cell lung cancer patients is showing great promise.

Access to the Latest in Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung Cancer affects more Black people in America than other races, and outcomes for lung cancer patients who are members of the Black community lag behind those of other races. Some reasons to consider are:
1. Not seeing a doctor soon enough to be eligible for the most effective treatments
2. Reluctance to engage
3. Reluctance to participate in clinical trials

Research is advancing rapidly for both small cell and non small cell lung cancer. Currently, there are more treatment options for non small cell lung cancer patients than for small cell lung cancer patients, but, with additional research - especially through the results of clinical trials, treatment options for small cell lung cancer should increase. The ultimate goal is for the difference between small cell and non small cell lung cancer to simply be the size of their cells.
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