There are two main types of lung cancer: non-small lung cancer cell (or non-small) and small cell (or microcytic). The term “small cell” refers to the size and shape of cancer cells as seen under the microscope. Non-smal lung cancer cell originates in the epithelial cells and is the most common type. Lung cancer begins small cell in the nerve cells or hormone-producing cells.
Each of these types of lung cancer grows and spreads differently, and each requires a different treatment. It is therefore important to find out what type of lung cancer a person has to apply the appropriate treatment.
Once the malignant lung tumor begins to grow, it is possible that cancer cells detach. These detached cells can be transported by the blood or lymph. When a cancer cell is apparent from its place of origin and moves to a lymph node or to a distant part of the body through the bloodstream, and there starts to split and form new tumors, we say that the tumor because distant metastases, has metastasized. We then say that the patient has a cancer then spread, with metastatic cancer.
The lymph flows through tubes called lymphatic vessels that drain into a “collecting stations, lymph nodes, found in the lungs (around bronchi) in the center of the chest (mediastinum) and other body parts. The natural flow of lymph from the lungs is toward the center of the chest, which explains why lung cancer often spreads to there.
