Stefanie Ard Stephenson Foundation

Dedicated to raising awareness and money for small cell lung cancer research

Small Cell Lung Cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 200,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with lung cancer every year. Lung cancer forms in tissues of the lung such as the cells lining air passages. The body's own cells begin to malfunction and they cannot stop replicating. When these cancer cells metastasize, they spread to other parts of the body. There are two types of lung cancer: small cell and non-small cell. Fewer than 5 out of every 100 people (5%) diagnosed with small cell lung cancer will live for 5 or more years. Some known causes of lung cancer include smoking cigarettes, asbestos inhalation, and exposure to high levels of radon. Smoking is the leading cause of small cell lung cancer in the United States. Among the 250 known harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least 69 can cause cancer.

Small cell lung cancer is usually treated with radiation and chemotherapy. In some cases PCI ( prophylactic cranial irradiation) is used as well. Unfortunatly, small cell lung cancer patients have far fewer treatment options available to them than other cancer victims. Lack of awareness and funding leads to fewer research opportunities, and thus the mortality rate for individuals with lung cancer is unnecessarily high. There are amazing research institutions with the desire to learn more about small cell lung cancer. It is our hope that this organization can help enable research groups to have more funding so that they can develop more treatments, and one day develop a cure for small cell lung cancer.

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