Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsNon-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)Rare Types of Lung CancerWomen vs. MenAge DifferencesSmokersGeneticsScreening
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)
Rare Types of Lung Cancer
Women vs. Men
Age Differences
Smokers
Genetics
Screening
The most common types of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)—which accounts for 80% to 85% of diagnosed cases of the disease in the United States—and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Each of these is further divided into subtypes, which include adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.
Although mostlung cancerdiagnoses are either NSCLC or SCLC, a small percentage are a third type called carcinoid tumor. Many factors—from smoking and air quality to age and genes—influence a person’s risk of lung cancer as well as the type of cancer they get.
2 Main Types of Primary Lung Cancer
Primary lung cancers are those that start in the lungs, rather than spreading (metastasizing) to the lungs from somewhere else in the body.
There are two main types ofprimary lung cancers: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).(The names NSCLC and SCLC are based on the kinds of cells that make up the cancers' tumors.)
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common lung cancer, and it usually grows and spreads slowly. Although it is most associated with smoking, NSCLC is also the lung cancer most frequently diagnosed in people who have never smoked as well as younger people.
There are three main subtypes of NSCLC:
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Small cell lung cancer(SCLC) is the most aggressive and fatal lung cancer; it is diagnosed in 10% to 15% of the disease’s cases.
It is strongly linked with smoking, but other risk factors include exposure to radon gas, radiation, and hazardous chemicals. People with a family history of lung cancer or who have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may also have a greater chance of developing SCLC.
The two subtypes of SCLC include:
Diagnostic tests may reveal additional information about a person’s specific lung cancer, including these rare types:
Lung Cancer in Women Vs. Men
Lung cancer risk and incidence varies based on a person’s sex assigned at birth:
Age and Lung Cancer
Lung cancer, as with many diseases, is generally more common in older people: The average age of diagnosis is 70.In adults 35 and younger, lung adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for nearly half of cases.
Carcinoid lung tumors are most frequently found in people aged 45-55, but can be diagnosed at any age, including in children and adolescents.On the other hand, SCLC is relatively rare in young people, seen in less than 5% of lung cancer cases.
Smokers vs. Non-Smokers
In many ways,lung cancer in non-smokersis quite different from lung cancer in people who smoke. This applies to even the most common types of the disease. For example:
The Role of Genetics
Smoking is a main, but not the only, cause of lung cancer. Genes play a key role, especially in younger people with the disease. Adults under 35 with lung cancer are much more likely to have a genetic factor that contributed to their cancer.
There seems to be a link between genes and lung cancer in nonsmokers as well. When a 2021 study examined lung tumors in people with NSCLC who had never smoked, cancer-related changes (mutations) in genes were found in 189 out of the 232 cases.
Identifying gene mutations has paved the way for targeted lung cancer testing and therapies. For example, targeted drug treatment therapies are available, or in development, for the following gene mutations: EGFR, ROS1, ALK, and BRAF.If genetic testing reveals that a person with lung cancer has one of these mutations, their treatment can be targeted toward it.
Long-term survivalfrom any type of lung cancer is higher when found in the earlier stages of the disease. That’s why lung cancer screeningis recommended for people ages 50 to 80 with at least a 20-pack-year history of smoking, and who smoked or quit smoking in the past 15 years.
If you’ve never smoked, you may still want to ask your healthcare provider about screening. A 2019 study in theJournal of Thoracic Oncologyfound that low-dose computerized tomography (CT) scans revealed a significant amount of early-stage lung cancers in both smokers and never-smokers who had not yet been diagnosed with the disease.
Summary
There are several types and subtypes of lung cancer, most of which are forms of either non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or small cell lung cancer (SCLC). While many factors influence why a person gets lung cancer, smoking remains the top cause.
A person’s sex assigned at birth, age, and genetics also influence their risk of lung cancer. Researchers have discovered several genetic mutations in people with certain types of lung cancer, which is leading to targeted treatments.
23 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for lung cancer.Dela Cruz CS, Tanoue LT, Matthay RA.Lung cancer: epidemiology, etiology, and prevention.Clinics in Chest Medicine. 2011;32(4):605-644. doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2011.09.001Perez-Moreno P, Brambilla E, Thomas R, Soria JC.Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung: Molecular subtypes and therapeutic opportunities.Clinical Cancer Research. 2012;18(9):2443-2451. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-11-2370National Organization of Rare Diseases.Small cell lung cancer.Cleveland Clinic.Small cell lung cancer.National Cancer Institute.Small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ®)–patient version.Mohamud, S., Oyawusi, M., Weir, R.L.et al.Pancoast tumor presenting with multiple joint pains: a case report.J Med Case Reports16, 109 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-022-03328-4American Cancer Society.Key statistics for lung carcinoid tumor.National Cancer Institute.Malignant mesothelioma—patient version.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.U.S. cancer statistics lung cancer bite.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for lung cancer.Gee, K., Yendamuri, S.Lung cancer in females—sex-based differences from males in epidemiology, biology, and outcomes: a narrative review. Translational Lung Cancer Research. 2024.Barrera-Rodriguez R, Morales-Fuentes J.Lung cancer in women.Lung Cancer (Auckl). 2012;3:79-89. doi:10.2147/LCTT.S37319Liu B, Quan X, Xu C, et al.Lung cancer in young adults aged 35 years or younger: A full-scale analysis and review.J Cancer. 2019;10(15):3553-3559. doi:10.7150%2Fjca.27490Rich AL, Khakwani A, Free CM, et al.Non-small cell lung cancer in young adults: Presentation and survival in the English National Lung Cancer Audit.QJM. 2015;108(11):891-897. doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcv052American Cancer Society.Risk factors for lung carcinoid tumors.Kozielski J, Kaczmarczyk G, Porębska I, Szmygin-Milanowska K, Gołecki M.Lung cancer in patients under the age of 40 years.Contemporary Oncology. 2012;5:413-415. doi:10.5114%2Fwo.2012.31770Lee MH, Qureshi MM, Suzuki K, Everett P, Tapan U, Mak KS.Small cell lung cancer in young patients: trends in sociodemographic factors, diagnosis, treatment, and survival.Journal of Thoracic Disease. 2022;14(8).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lung cancer among people who never smoked.Zhang T, Joubert P, Ansari-Pour N, et al.Genomic and evolutionary classification of lung cancer in never smokers.Nat Genet. 2021;53(9):1348-1359. doi:10.1038/s41588-021-00920-0American Cancer Society.Targeted drug therapy for non-small cell lung cancer.United States Preventive Services Task Force.Lung cancer: screening.Kang HR, Cho JY, Lee SH, et al.Role of low-dose computerized tomography in lung cancer screening among never-smokers.Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 2019;14(3):436-444. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2018.11.002Additional ReadingNational Cancer Institute.Non-small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ)–health Professional version.National Cancer Institute.Small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ)–health professional version.
23 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for lung cancer.Dela Cruz CS, Tanoue LT, Matthay RA.Lung cancer: epidemiology, etiology, and prevention.Clinics in Chest Medicine. 2011;32(4):605-644. doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2011.09.001Perez-Moreno P, Brambilla E, Thomas R, Soria JC.Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung: Molecular subtypes and therapeutic opportunities.Clinical Cancer Research. 2012;18(9):2443-2451. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-11-2370National Organization of Rare Diseases.Small cell lung cancer.Cleveland Clinic.Small cell lung cancer.National Cancer Institute.Small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ®)–patient version.Mohamud, S., Oyawusi, M., Weir, R.L.et al.Pancoast tumor presenting with multiple joint pains: a case report.J Med Case Reports16, 109 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-022-03328-4American Cancer Society.Key statistics for lung carcinoid tumor.National Cancer Institute.Malignant mesothelioma—patient version.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.U.S. cancer statistics lung cancer bite.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for lung cancer.Gee, K., Yendamuri, S.Lung cancer in females—sex-based differences from males in epidemiology, biology, and outcomes: a narrative review. Translational Lung Cancer Research. 2024.Barrera-Rodriguez R, Morales-Fuentes J.Lung cancer in women.Lung Cancer (Auckl). 2012;3:79-89. doi:10.2147/LCTT.S37319Liu B, Quan X, Xu C, et al.Lung cancer in young adults aged 35 years or younger: A full-scale analysis and review.J Cancer. 2019;10(15):3553-3559. doi:10.7150%2Fjca.27490Rich AL, Khakwani A, Free CM, et al.Non-small cell lung cancer in young adults: Presentation and survival in the English National Lung Cancer Audit.QJM. 2015;108(11):891-897. doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcv052American Cancer Society.Risk factors for lung carcinoid tumors.Kozielski J, Kaczmarczyk G, Porębska I, Szmygin-Milanowska K, Gołecki M.Lung cancer in patients under the age of 40 years.Contemporary Oncology. 2012;5:413-415. doi:10.5114%2Fwo.2012.31770Lee MH, Qureshi MM, Suzuki K, Everett P, Tapan U, Mak KS.Small cell lung cancer in young patients: trends in sociodemographic factors, diagnosis, treatment, and survival.Journal of Thoracic Disease. 2022;14(8).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lung cancer among people who never smoked.Zhang T, Joubert P, Ansari-Pour N, et al.Genomic and evolutionary classification of lung cancer in never smokers.Nat Genet. 2021;53(9):1348-1359. doi:10.1038/s41588-021-00920-0American Cancer Society.Targeted drug therapy for non-small cell lung cancer.United States Preventive Services Task Force.Lung cancer: screening.Kang HR, Cho JY, Lee SH, et al.Role of low-dose computerized tomography in lung cancer screening among never-smokers.Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 2019;14(3):436-444. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2018.11.002Additional ReadingNational Cancer Institute.Non-small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ)–health Professional version.National Cancer Institute.Small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ)–health professional version.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Cancer Society.Key statistics for lung cancer.Dela Cruz CS, Tanoue LT, Matthay RA.Lung cancer: epidemiology, etiology, and prevention.Clinics in Chest Medicine. 2011;32(4):605-644. doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2011.09.001Perez-Moreno P, Brambilla E, Thomas R, Soria JC.Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung: Molecular subtypes and therapeutic opportunities.Clinical Cancer Research. 2012;18(9):2443-2451. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-11-2370National Organization of Rare Diseases.Small cell lung cancer.Cleveland Clinic.Small cell lung cancer.National Cancer Institute.Small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ®)–patient version.Mohamud, S., Oyawusi, M., Weir, R.L.et al.Pancoast tumor presenting with multiple joint pains: a case report.J Med Case Reports16, 109 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-022-03328-4American Cancer Society.Key statistics for lung carcinoid tumor.National Cancer Institute.Malignant mesothelioma—patient version.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.U.S. cancer statistics lung cancer bite.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for lung cancer.Gee, K., Yendamuri, S.Lung cancer in females—sex-based differences from males in epidemiology, biology, and outcomes: a narrative review. Translational Lung Cancer Research. 2024.Barrera-Rodriguez R, Morales-Fuentes J.Lung cancer in women.Lung Cancer (Auckl). 2012;3:79-89. doi:10.2147/LCTT.S37319Liu B, Quan X, Xu C, et al.Lung cancer in young adults aged 35 years or younger: A full-scale analysis and review.J Cancer. 2019;10(15):3553-3559. doi:10.7150%2Fjca.27490Rich AL, Khakwani A, Free CM, et al.Non-small cell lung cancer in young adults: Presentation and survival in the English National Lung Cancer Audit.QJM. 2015;108(11):891-897. doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcv052American Cancer Society.Risk factors for lung carcinoid tumors.Kozielski J, Kaczmarczyk G, Porębska I, Szmygin-Milanowska K, Gołecki M.Lung cancer in patients under the age of 40 years.Contemporary Oncology. 2012;5:413-415. doi:10.5114%2Fwo.2012.31770Lee MH, Qureshi MM, Suzuki K, Everett P, Tapan U, Mak KS.Small cell lung cancer in young patients: trends in sociodemographic factors, diagnosis, treatment, and survival.Journal of Thoracic Disease. 2022;14(8).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lung cancer among people who never smoked.Zhang T, Joubert P, Ansari-Pour N, et al.Genomic and evolutionary classification of lung cancer in never smokers.Nat Genet. 2021;53(9):1348-1359. doi:10.1038/s41588-021-00920-0American Cancer Society.Targeted drug therapy for non-small cell lung cancer.United States Preventive Services Task Force.Lung cancer: screening.Kang HR, Cho JY, Lee SH, et al.Role of low-dose computerized tomography in lung cancer screening among never-smokers.Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 2019;14(3):436-444. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2018.11.002
American Cancer Society.Key statistics for lung cancer.
Dela Cruz CS, Tanoue LT, Matthay RA.Lung cancer: epidemiology, etiology, and prevention.Clinics in Chest Medicine. 2011;32(4):605-644. doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2011.09.001
Perez-Moreno P, Brambilla E, Thomas R, Soria JC.Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung: Molecular subtypes and therapeutic opportunities.Clinical Cancer Research. 2012;18(9):2443-2451. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-11-2370
National Organization of Rare Diseases.Small cell lung cancer.
Cleveland Clinic.Small cell lung cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ®)–patient version.
Mohamud, S., Oyawusi, M., Weir, R.L.et al.Pancoast tumor presenting with multiple joint pains: a case report.J Med Case Reports16, 109 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-022-03328-4
American Cancer Society.Key statistics for lung carcinoid tumor.
National Cancer Institute.Malignant mesothelioma—patient version.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.U.S. cancer statistics lung cancer bite.
Gee, K., Yendamuri, S.Lung cancer in females—sex-based differences from males in epidemiology, biology, and outcomes: a narrative review. Translational Lung Cancer Research. 2024.
Barrera-Rodriguez R, Morales-Fuentes J.Lung cancer in women.Lung Cancer (Auckl). 2012;3:79-89. doi:10.2147/LCTT.S37319
Liu B, Quan X, Xu C, et al.Lung cancer in young adults aged 35 years or younger: A full-scale analysis and review.J Cancer. 2019;10(15):3553-3559. doi:10.7150%2Fjca.27490
Rich AL, Khakwani A, Free CM, et al.Non-small cell lung cancer in young adults: Presentation and survival in the English National Lung Cancer Audit.QJM. 2015;108(11):891-897. doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcv052
American Cancer Society.Risk factors for lung carcinoid tumors.
Kozielski J, Kaczmarczyk G, Porębska I, Szmygin-Milanowska K, Gołecki M.Lung cancer in patients under the age of 40 years.Contemporary Oncology. 2012;5:413-415. doi:10.5114%2Fwo.2012.31770
Lee MH, Qureshi MM, Suzuki K, Everett P, Tapan U, Mak KS.Small cell lung cancer in young patients: trends in sociodemographic factors, diagnosis, treatment, and survival.Journal of Thoracic Disease. 2022;14(8).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lung cancer among people who never smoked.
Zhang T, Joubert P, Ansari-Pour N, et al.Genomic and evolutionary classification of lung cancer in never smokers.Nat Genet. 2021;53(9):1348-1359. doi:10.1038/s41588-021-00920-0
American Cancer Society.Targeted drug therapy for non-small cell lung cancer.
United States Preventive Services Task Force.Lung cancer: screening.
Kang HR, Cho JY, Lee SH, et al.Role of low-dose computerized tomography in lung cancer screening among never-smokers.Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 2019;14(3):436-444. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2018.11.002
National Cancer Institute.Non-small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ)–health Professional version.National Cancer Institute.Small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ)–health professional version.
National Cancer Institute.Non-small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ)–health Professional version.
National Cancer Institute.Small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ)–health professional version.
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