The treatments you receive for lung cancer depend on many factors, such as the stage and type of cancer you have and your overall health. The most common treatment options are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
The
Lung cancer is divided into two main types: small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SCLC tends to have a poorer outlook and usually requires more aggressive treatment.
The main treatments for lung cancer include:
Treatment for early stage lung cancer often involves trying to cure the cancer.
However, about
Can lung cancer be cured?
Lung cancer can often be cured if it’s contained to one side of your chest. However, many people have cancer that’s already spread beyond this point when they receive a diagnosis.
The chance of curing lung cancer also depends on factors such as:
- your age and overall health
- which type of lung cancer you have
- how advanced your cancer is
Surgery is a treatment option for early stage lung cancer when the cancer is limited to
Surgery for lung cancer involves removing cancer cells and surrounding tissue. Surgery may precede or follow chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Surgery is not a treatment option for advanced lung cancer, but doctors may order surgery to help manage your symptoms.
- reactions to anesthesia
- excessive bleeding
- blood clots
- infections
- pneumonia
Chemotherapy is a drug therapy that plays an important part in lung cancer treatment for many stages of cancer. It can help shrink cancer cells so they can be surgically removed, or it can help destroy cancer cells that remain after surgery.
If surgery can’t be used, chemotherapy may be the primary treatment, either by itself or with other treatments.
Uses of chemotherapy include:
| NSCLC stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 | not a standard treatment |
| Stage 2 | before or after surgery |
| Stage 3A | • by itself or with radiation therapy before surgery • with radiation therapy • with radiation therapy before immunotherapy |
| Stage 3B or C | • before or at the same time as radiation therapy, possibly with more chemotherapy • with radiation therapy before immunotherapy |
| Stage 4, relapsed, or recurrent | • by itself • combined with targeted therapy • combined with immunotherapy |
| SCLC stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Limited stage | • with or without radiation therapy • after surgery, possibly with radiation therapy |
| Extensive stage | • combined with immunotherapy • by itself or with radiation therapy |
Chemotherapy side effects can include:
- frequent infections
- constipation or diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- nausea and vomiting
- fertility issues
- fatigue
- easy bruising and bleeding
- mood changes
Radiation therapy uses high energy waves to destroy cancer cells. It’s another critical treatment for many stages of lung cancer. Doctors use radiation therapy to cure cancer or minimize your symptoms.
Here are some of its uses:
| NSCLC stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 | by itself for people who can’t or choose not to receive surgery |
| Stage 2 | by itself for people who can’t or choose not to receive surgery |
| Stage 3A | • combined with chemotherapy before or after surgery • after surgery • by itself • combined with chemotherapy • as a palliative treatment |
| Stage 3B and C | • after chemotherapy • together with chemotherapy • combined with chemotherapy and followed by immunotherapy • as a palliative treatment |
| Stage 4, relapsed, or recurrent | as a palliative treatment |
| SCLC stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Limited stage | • with chemotherapy • together with chemotherapy after surgery • administered to your brain preventively |
| Extensive stage | • by itself or with chemotherapy • administered to your brain preventively |
Side effects of radiation therapy can include:
- fatigue
- weakness
- general sickness
- rashes
- trouble swallowing
- chest pain
- loss of appetite
Targeted therapy involves taking medications that specifically target cancer cells while leaving your healthy cells largely undamaged.
Doctors may use targeted therapy in the following situations:
- after surgery for stage 1, 2, or 3A NSCLC
- with a combination of chemotherapy drugs for stage 4 NSCLC
- by itself for stage 4 NSCLC
Targeted therapy generally causes fewer side effects than chemotherapy, but cancer cells can become resistant to targeted therapy drugs and stop responding.
Side effects of targeted therapy can include:
- fatigue
- changes to your nails
- problems with blood clotting and wound healing
- mouth sores
- rashes
Immunotherapy stimulates your immune system to attack cancer cells. Doctors may use immunotherapy to try to cure your cancer or prolong your survival.
Your doctor may recommend immunotherapy for:
- stage 2 or stage 3A NSCLC after surgery
- stage 3B or 3C NSCLC after chemotherapy and radiation therapy
- stage 4 NSCLC
- extensive stage SCLC
Side effects of immunotherapy may include:
- potentially serious autoimmune reactions
- fatigue
- cough
- nausea
- rash
- loss of appetite
- changes in bowel movements
- joint pain
Other treatments for lung cancer include:
- Cryosurgery: Cryosurgery is the use of extreme cold to treat precancerous NSCLC.
- Electrocautery: Electrocautery uses a heated probe to remove precancerous NSCLC.
- Photodynamic therapy: Photodynamic therapy involves using chemicals that react to light to treat precancerous NSCLC.
- Laser therapy: Laser therapy uses concentrated light beams to destroy cancer cells blocking your airways in stage 4 NSLC.
- Endoscopic stent placement: An endoscopic stent opens your airways if they’re blocked from SCLC.
Your outlook with lung cancer depends on factors such as:
- your age
- your overall health
- your subtype of lung cancer
- how advanced your cancer is
Here’s a look at the
| Stage | NSCLC | SCLC |
|---|---|---|
| Local | 65% | 30% |
| Regional | 37% | 18% |
| Distant | 9% | 3% |
| All stages | 28% | 7% |
The 5-year relative survival rate is a measure of how many people with the cancer are alive 5 years after diagnosis compared with people without the cancer. It cannot predict an individual’s specific outcome. If you have any questions about your outlook, talk with your doctor.
Treatment for lung cancer depends on many factors, such as how far the cancer has advanced, your overall health, and which type of lung cancer you have.
The most common treatment options are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Your doctor can help you weigh the pros and cons of each treatment and inform you of the potential side effects.