Small cell lung cancer makes up about 20% of all lung cancers. They are named for the way the cancer cells look. SCLC tends to spread widely throughout the body. This means that the treatment must include drugs to kill the widespread disease. Despite each cell being small, the cells multiply quickly and form large tumors. The cells spread to lymph nodes and other organs such as the bones, brain, adrenal glands, and liver. Small cell lung cancer usually started in the bronchi and toward the center of the lungs. Smoking almost always causes SCLC. It is very rare to find a SCLC case where the patient has never smoked. SCLC is also known as oat cell carcinoma and small cell undifferentiated carcinoma.
