Lung Cancer Treatments

Currently, lung cancer patients may take several approaches to managing their disease. An oncologist may suggest one or more conventional treatments along with a number of alternative options to create an individualized treatment plan for each patient. Clinical trials are continually exploring additional options for lung cancer treatment.

Patients may also choose a "watchful waiting" option, deferring treatment until symptoms significantly interfere with normal functioning. Patients can also complete one treatment and wait until the condition changes before selecting any additional therapies.

Common Treatments for Lung Cancer

Surgery is one of the standard lung cancer therapies. Surgical treatments have found to be potentially curative up to stage 3A for non-small cell lung cancer patients and stage IB for small cell lung cancer patients.

Several different surgical procedures may be considered for the treatment of lung cancer. These operations include:

• Resection - A wedge resection removes the tumor and small portions of surrounding tissue. A segmental resection extracts a slightly larger portion of affected tissue. A sleeve resection takes out part of the patient's bronchus.
• Lobectomy - A lobectomy resects an entire lobe, or section, of a cancerous lung.
• Pneumonectomy - A pneumonectomy removes an entire lung. In the case of this complete resection, adjuvant radiotherapy is rarely suggested.

Radiation therapy kills cancerous cells by subjecting them to high-energy X-Rays. External radiation therapy delivers these rays from a machine, while internal radiation therapy implants seeds or catheters directly into the body.

Chemotherapy is another common form of lung cancer treatment. During chemotherapy, drugs are administered orally or intravenously and travel through the body to cancerous cells. The drugs are highly potent and can prevent cellular division or completely kill cancerous cells. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are often administered simultaneously in a procedure known as radiochemotherapy.

Alternative Lung Cancer Treatment

Non-small cell lung cancers may also be treated via alternative methods. Laser therapy and photodynamic therapy are the two most common alternative treatments for lung cancer.

Laser therapy directs intense beams of light at cancerous cells. Photodynamic therapy is a slightly more advanced outpatient procedure that consists of two steps. First, a photosensitizing agent is injected into the patient's bloodstream. After 24 to 72 hours, the agent is eliminated by healthy cells, but it remains in cancerous cells, which are then exposed to light. As the agent absorbs the light, it creates a unique active oxygen that is toxic to the tumor.

Another alternative form of treating lung cancer is targeted therapy. During this procedure, patients are injected with specific substances that attack cancerous cells but have little or no affect on healthy cells. Non-small cell lung cancer can be treated by monoclonal antibodies or tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Two studies have found that both of these substances are able to extend the overall survival rate of patients with stage III and IV non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer to more than a year.

Challenges in Treating Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is often diagnosed in its later stages. This can create several difficulties in developing a treatment plan. Late-stage cancer is typically more resistant to treatment and fewer options may be available. Additionally, once the cancer has metastasized, it can be harder to treat. Distant metastases typically require palliative therapies instead of curative measures.

One Swedish study found that patients spent an average of 203 days arriving at a treatment decision after they first noted their symptoms. Such significant delays may negatively affect a patient's prognosis. Patients have the best chance of obtaining a cure or effective palliation if they obtain prompt treatment. According to the RAND Corporation, a non-profit research organization, lung cancer patients should begin their first round of treatment within six weeks of diagnosis. To learn more about the best lung cancer doctors in your area, please contact the Mesothelioma Center's Doctor Match Program.