Question 1

what is typical doubling time of small cell lc. looking around i appears to be 30-220 days. this is a huge range, what is seen in real world?  thanks.

Accepted Answer

Moot: How fast a particular cancer will grow varies with its particular genome at the time -- no two are exactly alike and none are stable -- and there's selection for the faster growing clones. Small-cell tumors untreated often reach massive size and kill within a few weeks of being noticed. Estimating doubling time isn't of much help in management decisions.

Question 2

can small cell cancer recur?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Short answer: yes.
Small cell lung cancer is staged as either limited stage (fits within a radiation field for treatment) or extensive stage. It tends to respond well to treatment, but recur.

Question 3

can you have non-small and small cell cancer at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Non-small cell lung cancer (nsclc) and small cell lung cancer (sclc) are two different types of lung cancer. They can occur together at the same time. Not very common, but it happens. Some of the same chemotherapies (and radiation) may be effective against both types of tumors.

Question 4

the doc said i had a small cell in my urine?

Accepted Answer

What type of cells: There are several cells found in urine.  You need to ask what type: white cells, red cells, epithelial cells, bacterial cells, transitional cells.  It may not mean anything without knowing the type.

Question 5

what is oats cell cancer (small cell cancer)?

Accepted Answer

Lung cancer: Small cell/oat cell carcinoma is one type of lung cancer.  It tends to spread early and widely, often when the primary lesion itself may be small and barely detectable.  It is usualy treated with chemotherapy.

Question 6

how long would a person live if small cell carcinoma?

Accepted Answer

Confined to chest: Or limited disease, there is a hance of cure.  If presenting with metastasis, there is a chance of surviving well for many, but few make it beyond 2 years.  Small cells can occur at other organs. You need to see a medical and a radiation oncology doctor while your work up proceeds. (head mr, bone scan, chest/abd ct + contrast thru adrenals).

Question 7

what is the definition or description of: small cell carcinoma?

Accepted Answer

It is an uncommon: Type, always associated with tobacco, characteristic cellular appearance of dominant hyperchromatic nuclei, no nucleolus, scant cytoplasm. Stains with chromogranin, synaptophysin, molecular loss of rb, over production of bcl-2. It responds to chemo, but needs XRT in limited. Goes to many organs early. Need at least chemo and XRT doc to assess.

Question 8

how long can a person live with extensive small cell carcinoma?

Accepted Answer

Extensive: Is defined as cancer outside the chest, or in the fluid on the same side, or nodes on the opposite side too big to be included in XRT ports. Survival: about 50% make it a year, but more than 90% are dead at 2 years with very few cured or alive at 5 years.  Limited disease is cured in about a quarter of cases.

Question 9

what is the difference between small cell and non-small cell cancers?

Accepted Answer

SCLC more aggressive: Under a microscope, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) looks different from other types of lung cancer (non-SCLC, or NSCLC).  SCLC tends to grow more rapidly and metastasize more. But it responds better to chemotherapy and radiation therapy than does NSCLC.  Surgery is rarely indicated for SCLC.

Question 10

what is the approximate size of a small cell cancer cell? (the individual cell).

Accepted Answer

Oat cells: The all-too-familiar lung cancer. Around 15 by 20 microns. They vary some. This is bigger than many healthy body cells, but quite small for cancer cells. They don't have much cytoplasm, and they tend not to accumulate a lot of extra chromosomes.

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Doctor answers about:

Small cell

A member asked:

What is typical doubling time of small cell lc. looking around i appears to be 30-220 days. this is a huge range, what is seen in real world? thanks.

A member asked:

Can small cell cancer recur?

A member asked:

Can you have non-small and small cell cancer at the same time?

A member asked:

The doc said i had a small cell in my urine?

A member asked:

What is oats cell cancer (small cell cancer)?

A member asked:

How long would a person live if small cell carcinoma?

A member asked:

What is the definition or description of: small cell carcinoma?

A member asked:

How long can a person live with extensive small cell carcinoma?

A member asked:

What is the difference between small cell and non-small cell cancers?

A member asked:

What is the approximate size of a small cell cancer cell? (the individual cell).

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