Squamous Cell Lung Cancer: What to Know

The cancer begins in flat cells lining parts of the airways. A biopsy confirms the cell type, while scans assess the lung, lymph nodes, and possible spread. Genomic tumour profiling and other pathology tests can help identify treatment options, although not every tumour has a useful target.

Symptoms vary. A persistent cough, chest discomfort, breathlessness, coughing blood, tiredness, unexplained weight change, or a hoarse voice may occur. A hoarse voice is not specific to cancer and can have many causes.

Ask your team to explain the biopsy, stage, and treatment goal. Localised disease may be treated with surgery such as a lung lobectomy, radiotherapy, systemic treatment, or a combination. When disease has spread, chemotherapy and other medicines may be used; palliative care can support breathlessness, pain, sleep, appetite, and emotional wellbeing at any stage.

Bring your medication list and tell the team about smoking or workplace exposures without blame. Stopping tobacco can support breathing and treatment tolerance, and help is available if you want it.

Call emergency services for severe breathlessness, blue lips, sudden confusion, fainting, or coughing up more than a small amount of blood. Contact your cancer team promptly for fever, new chest pain, rapidly worsening cough, or a sudden change in voice or swallowing.

What did the biopsy and staging scans show? Is genomic profiling useful for my tumour? Is surgery possible? What benefit and side effects should I expect from radiotherapy or chemotherapy? Would palliative care help with current symptoms?