Small Cell Carcinoma
Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/garden/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821
Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/garden/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821
Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/garden/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821
Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/garden/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821
Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/garden/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821
Small Cell Carcinoma
Sometimes Small Cell Carcinoma is referred to “oat cell carcinoma” due to the flat shape and dispersion of the cells (when associated with the lungs). It is more metastatic than non-small cell carcinoma. Smoking is a significant factor. The signs and symptoms of small cell carcinoma are similar to those of other lung cancers. From the perspective of histopathology, small cell carcinoma often appears as a light grey mass. There is always cell necrosis.
When this type of cancer is found in the prostate, it is rare, accounting for 1% of cases or less; since the factors used for detecting it (prostate specific antigen) vary little from other types, it is usually detected in the prostate during late stages, when it has metastasized.
Treatment
In the case of limited stage small cell carcinoma, chemotherapy of frequently employed, often comprised of one or a combination of the following agents: Cyclophosphamide, cisplatinum, doxorubicin, etoposide, vincristine and/or paclitaxel. This may be done at the same time as chest radiotherapy (radiation therapy). The latter addition to chemotherapy can improve survival rates in limited stage cancers of this sort. Though the cancer responds remarkably fast to this combination therapy, relapses can occur, with life expectancy of up to two years in forty to fifty percent of patients.
Because small cell carcinoma can spread rapidly, and responds quickly to chemotherapeutic agents, surgery’s role – unlike with other cancers – in treating it is limited.
Despite its response to combination therapy (chemo and radiation), the median survival rate remains low after relapse in extensive and limited stage forms of the disease.
For more, see http://www.smallcellcarcinoma.org
#1600
