Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)

Also known as small cell lung carcinoma or oat cell carcinoma, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly malignant form of bronchogenic malignant tumor that often begins in the large airways - primary and secondary bronchi. Unlike many types of cancer, small cell lung cancer can be prevented; its primary causative factor is cigarette smoke. In fact, most of SCLC victims are smokers.  

Small cell lung cancer is the most aggressive form of lung cancer. Unlike non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer tends to grow rapidly to become a large tumor, and precociously spread to distant sites of the organism including the brain, liver, and bone. Although, it has high sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy initially, small cell lung cancer often has an alarming prognosis; most patients die in a short period of time after the diagnosis.  

                                                                            Small Cell Lung Cancer Statistics