Lung Cancer: Treatment Options

How is it treated?

Treatment options for Lung Cancer (like all cancers) vary with the stage of development that the disease is in. The type of Lung Cancer and the stage of the disease determine which treatments are normally used. Non Small Cell Cancer is normally treated with surgery while Small Cell Cancer is normally treated with chemotherapy or other non-surgical procedures. Treatment options are different for each individual case, but there are several common procedures listed below. The information presented is intended to provide patients with treatment information that they can use in discussing treatment options with their physician.

Surgery is often followed by radiation or chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells that may have spread or may have been missed during surgery. The type of surgery depends on the location and size of the tumor.

• Segmental Resection - Surgery to remove only a small part of the lung that the tumor is isolated in. Sometimes referred to as a "wedge resection."
  
  
• Lobectomy - The surgical removal of an entire lobe of the lung; The right lung is divided into 3 lobes and the left lung is divided into 2 lobes.
  
  
• Pneumonectomy - The surgical removal of an entire lung.
  

• Chemotherapy - Drugs are administered by mouth or injection to kill the cancer cells. The drugs enter the blood stream and can therefore reach areas of the body where the cancer may have spread.
  
  
• Radiation Therapy - In some cases X-rays can be used to kill or shrink cancer cells at the site of the tumor. The radiation may be administered by a machine, such as a linear accelerator or cobalt apparatus, or from a radioactive source implanted within the diseased area. External beam radiation therapy uses radiation from outside the body to focus on the cancer and is, therefore, not the primary treatment for cancer that may have spread.
  
  
• Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) - A special chemical is injected into the blood stream and absorbed by all the cells. The chemical does not stay in normal cells for long but does remain in cancer cells for quite a while. A laser is aimed at the cancer and activates the chemical to kill the cancer cells it is inside of. PDT is normally used to relieve symptoms, such as breathing problems or bleeding, or to treat small tumors.
  
  
• Clinical Trials - There are always new experimental treatments being tested that often have promising results. The effectiveness and side effects of clinical trials are not always known, but they can sometimes offer hope of survival especially for end stage cancer patients. Consult your physician or the Rhode Island Cancer Council to find out what clinical trials are going on near you and if you are eligible.
  

What are the side effects of the treatments?

Certain side effects have been associated with different types of treatments. Each patient's response to treatment will be different but there are some common effects.

Possible Side Effects from Surgical Treatment

*Breathing exercises can help eliminate side effects and facilitate recovery

• Difficulty breathing deeply
  
• Difficulty turning over
  
• Pain and weakness in chest and arms
  
• Shortness of breath
  

Possible Side Effects from Non-Surgical Treatments

*Most side effects are temporary and can often be relieved with medication.

• Radiation Therapy
  
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
    
  • Fatigue
    
  • Irritation to the skin near the radiation site
    
• PhotodynamicTherapy
  
  • Eye and skin sensitivity to light
    
  • Coughing and painful breathing
    
  • Difficulty swallowing
    
  • Shortness of breath
    
• Chemotherapy
  
  • Nausea and vomiting
    
  • Loss of appetite
    
  • Loss of hair
    
  • Mouth sores
    
  • Increased susceptibility to infection
    
  • Premature menopause (permanent)
    
  • Infertility (permanent)
    

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