Lung Cancer Practice Test

Two broad groups of lung cancer are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. This split reflects important differences in biology, growth rate, and how the cancers are treated. Small cell lung cancer tends to grow quickly, often arises in the central airways, and spreads early to distant sites; because of its aggressive nature, treatment is mainly systemic chemotherapy and radiation, with surgery playing a limited role. Non-small cell lung cancer is more common and includes several histologies such as adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma; these tend to grow more slowly and, if localized, may be treated with surgery plus possibly adjuvant therapy, while advanced cases are managed with chemotherapy, targeted therapies, or immunotherapy depending on molecular features. This primary division helps guide initial management and prognosis.