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Treating Lung Cancer

The three main types of lung cancer treatment, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, may be used alone or in combination with one another. Treatment regimens may vary from person to person, depending on the stage and type of tumor cell. New types of treatments and combinations of therapies are currently being studied in clinical trials, which may result in better, more effective options for people with lung cancer. You and your doctor will decide the best course of treatment for you and your type of cancer, once all appropriate diagnostic tests and staging are complete.

To move directly to information about a specific type of treatment, click on a link below.

Surgery
Radiation
Chemotherapy
Clinical Trials

Surgery

Doctors who specialize in performing surgery within the chest area are called thoracic surgeons. You may be referred to a thoracic surgeon for treatment. It is important to find a doctor who has experience in treating patients with lung cancer, as the outcome of your procedure may depend on the skill of the surgeon.

Surgery, or tumor resection, is typically performed on patients who are in good physical health and whose cancers are confined to the lung area. Surgery is generally not recommended if the tumor is present in both lungs, has spread to other areas of the body, or is in an area of the lung that makes removal impossible.

Radiation and chemotherapy are often used in combination with surgery. Most often, these other treatments will be done after the tumor is removed. However, radiation and/or chemotherapy also may be used to shrink a tumor prior to surgery.

In order to determine if a patient is a candidate for surgery, breathing and other testing may be done. This is important to help ensure good quality of life for the patient after surgery.

There are three main types of surgery used to treat lung cancer:
  • Lobectomy is the removal of one of the lobes of the lungs
  • Pneumonectomy is the removal of an entire lung
  • Wedge or segmental resection are procedures in which a portion of the lobe or a nodule is removed
No matter which procedure is used, the surgeon will be careful to take out cancer tissue and some surrounding healthy tissue to help ensure that no cancer cells are left behind. Any one of these surgeries may cause temporary incision pain, pain on breathing, and, occasionally, pneumonia. Pain medication and breathing exercises may be prescribed to minimize these side effects.

Radiation

Many patients with lung cancer will undergo radiation therapy. Doctors called radiation oncologists provide this treatment, which kills cancer cells. Radiation may be used alone or in addition to surgery and/or chemotherapy. It may be performed before surgery to shrink the tumor or after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells at the site where the tumor was removed, or to areas where the cancer has spread beyond the lungs.

Most commonly, external beam radiation is performed. During treatment, a high-energy beam is aimed at the tumor. Some patients may undergo only one treatment, while others may have more than one treatment. Side effects patients may experience during radiation include:
  • Fatigue
  • Skin changes
  • Swelling of the esophagus
  • Hair loss in the treated area
  • Dry cough caused by swelling of the lung tissue
  • Sore throat

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy drugs are administered by a doctor or a nurse and are given either through a vein (intravenous infusion) or by mouth. Both ways deliver the drugs into the bloodstream. Chemotherapy often consists of two, or even three, separate drugs, called a regimen. When using chemotherapy, your doctor will choose the drug(s) and dose(s) based on your type of lung cancer and your overall health.

The goals of chemotherapy include:
  • Achieving remission and prolonging life
  • Slowing or stopping cancer from growing or spreading
  • Relieving cancer symptoms
  • Preparing a patient for surgery by shrinking the tumor
Chemotherapy works by killing dividing cells, like cancer cells. The drugs stop the cells from dividing, by permanently damaging them. This causes the cells to then destroy themselves (apoptosis). Unfortunately, chemotherapy also may affect normal cells of the body, such as blood cells, hair and skin cells, and cells that line the mouth and digestive tract. The side effects some patients experience are caused by the effects of chemotherapy on these normal cells.

Some side effects are life threatening and may prevent further use of chemotherapy. Others are merely annoying. Side effects patients may experience during chemotherapy include:
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Hair loss
  • Fatigue
  • Infections due to a weakened immune system
  • Nerve and muscle effects
    • tingling or numbness of hands and/or feet
    • loss of coordination and/or balance
    • weak or sore muscles
  • Bruising or bleeding from minor injuries, cuts, or scrapes caused by blood clotting problems
Be sure to tell your healthcare team if you are experiencing any of these side effects. There are treatments available that may help reduce the severity of side effects.

Clinical Trials

A clinical trial is a type of study that is done to determine the effects a treatment has on patients. Each trial is carefully planned and regulated.

You may have the opportunity to be in a clinical trial, if you and your doctor determine that participating in a study is a good option for treating your lung cancer. It is important to note that you may leave a trial at any time, for any reason.

Sometimes clinical trials study the effects of a new treatment after an already approved treatment has been given. Other times, a new treatment is compared with a standard treatment. These comparative clinical trials are randomized, which means that some patients receive the new treatment and others receive the standard treatment. All new treatments must be studied in clinical trials before they can be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. To find out more about clinical trials, call or contact:
  • National Cancer Institute—1-800-4-CANCER
    (1-800-422-6237), http://www.cancer.gov
  • US Food and Drug Administration—1-888-INFO-FDA
    (1-888-463-6332), http://www.fda.gov
  • Alliance for Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support, and Education
    (ALCASE)1-800-298-2436, http://www.alcase.org. Choose a link below for more information about the types, diagnosis, and treatment for lung cancer.

    Types of Lung Cancer
    Diagnosis of Lung Cancer
    Stages of Lung Cancer
    More Information