Non small cell lung cancer. There are three common types of non small cell lung cancer. These are grouped together because they behave in a similar way and respond to treatment in a different way to small cell lung cancer. They make up about 87 out of 100 lung cancers in the UK (87%).here are three common types of non small cell lung cancer. These are grouped together because they behave in a similar way and respond to treatment in a different way to small cell lung cancer. They make up about 87 out of 100 lung cancers in the UK (87%).