There are two major types. Each type of lung cancer grows and spreads in different ways and is treated differently.
Non-small cell lung cancer
- more common and it generally grows and spreads more slowly.
- three main types of non-small cell lung cancer.
- They are named for the type of cells in which the cancer develops:
* squamous cell carcinoma (also called epidermoid carcinoma)
* adenocarcinoma
* large cell carcinoma
Small cell lung cancer
- sometimes called oat cell cancer.
- less common and grows more quickly and is more likely to spread to other organs in the body.
