Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive malignancy with a short median survival time. Because of the rapid growth rate there may be an advantage to emergently beginning chemotherapy as soon as SCLC diagnosis is made.
Highlights
Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) is aparticularly aggressive lung malignancy characterized by a rapid doubling time, symptomatic disease, and early development of metastatic disease [1,2]
Mortality and cumulative survival time were not improved by early initiation of chemotherapy for any patient subset
Our data appears to show that urgency in starting chemotherapy has little bearing on survival in patients diagnosed with Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
Summary
Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) is aparticularly aggressive lung malignancy characterized by a rapid doubling time, symptomatic disease, and early development of metastatic disease [1,2]. Some oncologists will urge the start of chemotherapy as soon as possible (sometimes within 24 hours of diagnosis) given the potential for aggressive growth and metastasis. Some institutions will keep a patient with newly diagnosed lung cancer admitted to the hospital until final pathology is available so that in the event that the final diagnosis is SCLC chemotherapy can be initiated immediately as an in-patient. The theoretical rationale for emergent start of chemotherapy is based on the perceived rapid growth rate for SCLC. Because of the rapid growth rate there may be an advantage to emergently beginning chemotherapy as soon as SCLC diagnosis is made
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