Lung Cancer Treatment Options

Treating Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Because most small cell cancers have spread beyond the lungs by the time they are discovered, surgery is typically not an option. Instead, the most effective treatment is chemotherapy, either alone or in combination with radiation therapy.

Treating Non-Small Cell Cancer. The primary treatment for early stage non-small cell lung cancer is surgery. Surgeries that are common in the treatment of lung cancer include: lobectomy, wedge resection and pneumonectomy. Regardless of which surgery is performed, the surgeon will sample lymph nodes from the mediastinum (center of the chest), and the hilum (the region where the bronchi and blood vessels enter the lung) to determine if there is further spread of the disease, and if more aggressive measures need to be taken. Treatment of Stage III and more advanced non-small cell lung cancers is often individualized with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of both. In some cases, the physician may suggest the patient take part in a clinical trial—a research study offering access to experimental therapies that might not otherwise be available.

Lobectomy. The most common form of lung cancer surgery, this involves removing an entire lobe of one lung.

Wedge Resection. In this operation, the surgeon removes only the section of lung that contains the tumor—along with a margin of normal tissue.

Pneumonectomy. Here, the surgeon removes an entire lung. Because this procedure will decrease lung function considerably, and could lead to other complications, it is preformed only when necessary.

Chemotherapy. This treatment uses potent drugs to eradicate, shrink, slow the growth of, or prevent cancer from spreading. Typically, a combination of drugs is administered intravenously (directly into the veins) in a series of treatments over a period of weeks or months, with breaks in-between so that the patient’s body can recover.

Radiation Therapy. The goal of radiation therapy is to kill cancer cells while harming as little normal tissue as possible. This therapy may be used before, during and/or after chemotherapy, and is delivered in one of two ways—depending on the type and stage of cancer being treated. Radiation can either be administered to the affected area(s) from outside the body or, in other instances, inserted through a needle or catheter into or near the cancer.

Seek the most aggressive treatments available from our Multidisciplinary Lung Clinic with a referral from your primary care physician or with a self-referral by calling 1-877-LACKS-MI or 616-752-LACK(S).