Oops, you're using an old version of your browser so some of the features on this page may not be displaying properly.

MINIMAL Requirements: Google Chrome 24+Mozilla Firefox 20+Internet Explorer 11Opera 15–18Apple Safari 7SeaMonkey 2.15-2.23

Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Guide for Patients

ESMO-Patient-Guides-Non-Small-Cell-Lung-Cancer-1000x250

ESMO Guides for Patients are designed to assist patients, their relatives and caregivers to better understand the nature of different types of cancer and evaluate the best available treatment choices.

What is lung cancer?

Lung cancers typically start in the cells that line the bronchi and parts of the lung such as the bronchioles or alveoli. There are two main types of primary lung cancer:

  • Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC): This type gets its name from the small size of the cells that it is composed of when viewed under a microscope.
  • Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): This is the more common type of lung cancer, and accounts for 80-90% of all lung cancers.
    • This guide will focus exclusively on NSCLC.

What subtypes of NSCLC are there?

The three main histological subtypes of NSCLC are:

  • Adenocarcinoma: About 40% of all lung cancers are adenocarcinomas. These tumours start in mucus-producing cells that line the airways.
  • Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC): About 25-30% of all lung cancers are SCC. This type of cancer develops in cells that line the airways and is usually caused by smoking.
  • Large cell (undifferentiated) carcinoma: This type makes up around 10-15% of all lung cancers. It gets its name from the way that the cancer cells look when they are examined under a microscope.

Beyond a definition of NSCLC, in this guide for patients you will find answers to questions such as:

  • What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
  • How common is NSCLC?
  • What causes NSCLC?
  • How is NSCLC diagnosed?
  • How will my treatment be determined?
  • What are the treatment options for NSCLC?
  • Clinical trials
  • Supplementary interventions
  • What are the possible side effects of the treatments?
  • What happens after my treatment has finished?
  • Support groups

This guide has been prepared to help you, your friends, family and caregivers better understand NSCLC and its treatments. The medical information described in this document is based on ESMO clinical practice guidelines for the management of early-stage, locally-advanced or metastatic NSCLC. We recommend that you ask your doctor about the tests and types of treatments available in your country for your type and stage of NSCLC.

Published in 2019.

To enquire about permission to translate or support the distribution (in English or in a translated version) of the Patient Guides series, please send an e-mail to patient_guides@esmo.org

This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential, while others help us improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used.

For more detailed information on the cookies we use, please check our Privacy Policy.

Customise settings
  • Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and you can only disable them by changing your browser preferences.