Treatments offered to people with lung cancer vary based on the type and stage of lung cancer and other circumstances such as age, other medical problems, and personal eferences of the individual person. The treatment plan that you will be offered will be developed to meet your personal requirements.
Treating Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer There are three primary forms of treatment for non-small cell lung cancer.
Surgery
Radiation Therapy
Chemotherapy
The type of treatment or combination of treatments used depends on the type and stage of cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer differs from person to person. There is no easy way to pre-determine how an individual patient will respond to any specific treatment or bination of treatments. While the stage of a patient’s cancer will play a prominent role in the evelopment of treatment options, other factors such as general health, other medical conditions and individual priorities about quality of life and survival will need to be considered in the final decision about the treatmentplan.
The following is a review of the types of treatments that may be considered for different stages of non-small cell lung cancer. They are general descriptions of approaches to treatment. The information is provided to assist you in your discussions with your doctor and other members of your health care team about treatment options and your treatment plan. Remember, every patient is different. Your treatment options may not be the same as those described below. The potential side effects of the different types of treatment should be discussed with your doctor. In all cases, the treatment offered will have been tested in clinical trials and other research studies to ensure that it has the potential to benefit you.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer:
Stage I: Surgery is typically the recommended treatment. For patients with severe lung disease, such as advanced emphysema, or severe heart disease who cannot tolerate surgery, radiation therapy is sometimes used.
Stage II: Similar to Stage I.
Stage III-A: The recommended treatment is often chemotherapy and radiation therapy together. Sometimes chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy followed by surgery to remove the remaining tumour is recommended. At other times, radiation therapy alone to shrink the tumour and relieve symptoms is recommended.
Stage III-B: The recommended treatment is commonly chemotherapy and radiation therapy or radiation therapy alone. Surgery is not generally an option for patients with Stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer.
Stage IV: Surgery is usually not an option for patients with Stage IV nonsmall cell lung cancer. Chemotherapy can be used to provide symptom relief and to increase survival time modestly. Radiation therapy may be used to relieve local symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life.
Treating Small Cell Lung Cancer:
There are two primary forms of treatment for small cell lung cancer.
Radiation Therapy
Chemotherapy
While the stage of a patient’s cancer will play a prominent role in the development of treatment options, other factors such a general health, other medical conditions and individual preferences will need to be considered in the final decision about the treatment plan.
Small Cell Lung Cancer:
Limited-Stage: Chemotherapy, generally with radiation to the chest and brain, is the most frequently recommended treatment.
Extensive-Stage: Chemotherapy is the recommended treatment, with radiation possibly being used to relieve symptoms.