What is non-small cell lung cancer?

One type : There are two broad categories of primary lung cancer called small cell and non small cell. Simply put, small cell is more aggressive, harder to treat and less common. Non small cell acts differently, can be treated with surgery and is the common smokers lung cancer.

See below: Non-small cell lung cancer is a type of lung cancer that grows more slowly and can be operated on if diagnosed at an early stage. It generally has a better prognosis than small-cell lung cancer, but that is depending on the stage and comorbidities.

Formerly, NSCLC : (sq & adeno) were treated with surgery, no chemo. Small cell was almost never treated with surgery and always chemotherapy. Now, chemotherapy is used in both. Once mediastinal nodes are +, chemo+rt is the standard, but many try to use surgery, especially if a lobectomy can be done. All are linked to smoking/tobacco.