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Cancer: How Worthwhile is Non-Curative Treatment? pp 199–214Cite as

Non-Curative Chemotherapy for Small Cell Lung Cancer

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Part of the book series: Focus on Cancer ((3292))

Abstract

Lung cancer is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the community. There are 40 000 new cases per annum in the UK and the disease accounts for 16% of all cancer deaths. Approximately 25% of all lung cancer cases are of the small cell pathological subtype. It is now recognized that small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a systemic disease and that at the time of presentation most patients have dissemination, whether metastases are clinically apparent or not. The tumour is relatively chemosensitive but, despite a 60–70% complete clinical response rate to combination chemotherapy, only 15–20% of patients with seemingly limited disease are alive 2 years after diagnosis. Patients with extensive disease at presentation rarely live longer than 12 months. Overall, 2–3% of patients are alive at 5 years and can be considered cured of their disease. In essence, therefore, the treatment intent for patients, even with apparently limited disease, is the palliation of symptoms.

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Authors
  1. C. M. McLean
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  2. R. C. F. Leonard
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, West Smithfield, London, EC1A 7BE, UK

    Maurice L. Slevin MB, ChB, MD, FRCP  & Teresa Tate FRCP, FRCR  & 

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© 1998 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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McLean, C.M., Leonard, R.C.F. (1998). Non-Curative Chemotherapy for Small Cell Lung Cancer. In: Slevin, M.L., Tate, T. (eds) Cancer: How Worthwhile is Non-Curative Treatment?. Focus on Cancer. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1509-0_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1509-0_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-76083-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-1509-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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