What is metastatic non-small cell carcinoma?

The metastatic tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if non-small cell lung cancer spreads to the brain, the cancer cells in the brain are actually lung cancer cells. The disease is metastatic lung cancer, not brain cancer.

Does non-small cell cancer spread fast?

About 80 to 85 percent of all lung cancers are non–small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), which typically spread more slowly than small cell lung cancer.

Where does non-small cell lung cancer usually metastasize to?

Distant metastases at the time of presentation of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are a frequent clinical problem. Approximately 30–40% of NSCLC patients present with metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis (1, 2). The most common metastatic site is bone, followed by the lungs, brain, liver and adrenal glands.

Is metastatic NSCLC curable?

Although metastatic NSCLC is rarely curable, there are treatments that are available that can help relieve symptoms, prolong your life, and improve your quality of life. Depending on where your cancer has spread, your treatment might look different from that of someone else with metastatic NSCLC.

Is it painful to get a lung biopsy?

Lung biopsy procedures are not usually painful and have few risks that doctors associate with them. A doctor will only recommend a lung biopsy procedure to support their diagnosis. For example, if a person has smaller lung nodules, a biopsy may be too risky and difficult to justify.

How long does NSCLC take to spread?

It takes about three to six months for most lung cancers to double their size. Therefore, it could take several years for a typical lung cancer to reach a size at which it could be diagnosed on a chest X-ray.

What is the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer NSCLC )?

Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), also called non-small cell lung cancer, is the most common type of lung cancer….What are the survival rates for NSCLC.

Stage	Extent of cancer	5-year relative survival rate
localized	limited to your lungs	63%
regional	spread to nearby tissues	35%
distant	spread to distant tissues	7%

Does NSCLC spread to colon?

The most common NSCLC metastatic site is bone (34%), followed by lungs (32%), brain (28%), adrenal glands (17%), liver (13%), and extrathoracic lymph nodes (9%) [15]. Colonic metastasis is uncommon with an incidence of 0.1% [16].

What is the survival rate for small cell carcinoma?

Survival rates for small cell lung cancer, by stage. Because of this, the survival numbers may be slightly different for the latest staging system. The 5-year relative survival rate for people with stage I SCLC is about 31%. For stage II SCLC, the 5-year relative survival rate is about 19%.

What is the prognosis for small cell carcinoma?

Currently, the average 5-year survival rate for small cell lung cancer overall (all stages) is 5% to 10%. Factors that are associated with improved survival include female gender, and better performance status —that is better health in general at the time of diagnosis. Continued smoking may lower survival.

What is the difference between small and large cell cancer?

Small cell cancer is true to its name. When viewed under a microscope, the cells of a small cell cancer appear small and round. Non-small cell lung cancer cells are larger in size.

What type of cancer is metastatic cancer?

In metastasis, cancer cells break away from where they first formed (primary cancer), travel through the blood or lymph system, and form new tumors (metastatic tumors) in other parts of the body. The metastatic tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. The main reason that cancer is so serious is its ability to spread in the body.