Lung cancer is a disease in which malignant cancer cells begin to grow and spread in the tissue of the lung.The two main types are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, states the National Cancer Institute. Your treatment plan is usually based on the type, stage, and grade of your cancer as well as your overall health. There are some treatments methods for lung cancer that you should be aware of.
Surgery
Surgery may be a treatment option for lung cancer. During surgery, your surgeon works to remove the lung cancer and a margin of healthy tissue, states Mayo Clinic. A wedge or segmental resection removes the affected part of the lung but not the entire lobe. In more severe cases, a lobectomy may be performed to remove the entire lobe of the lung. If your cancer has spread throughout the entire lung a pneumonectomy may be done to remove the entire lung. During surgery, your surgeon may remove lymph nodes in the affected area to test them for cancer.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy may be used to treat lung cancer. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells and keep them from multiplying and spreading. Chemotherapy may be given through a vein (intravenously) or as an oral medication in pill form. A combination of drugs usually is given in a series of treatments over a period of weeks or months, with breaks in between so that your body can recover, reports Mayo Clinic.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy may be used in the treatment of lung cancer. Radiation therapy uses high beam X-rays to kill cancer cells and prevent them from dividing and spreading. Radiation can be given externally from a machine outside of the body, or internally through seed or wire implants placed inside the body near or at the affected area. According to the National Cancer Institute, the way the radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
