Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women in the United States, according to the Mayo Clinic. The two major types are small cell, which accounts for 10 to 15 percent of all cancers, and non-small, which accounts for 85 to 90 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. Before devising a treatment plan, the doctor will consider--among other things--the type of lung cancer the patient has and its severity.
Surgery
Surgery is generally an option for early stage lung cancers. The American Cancer Society (ACS) states that in cases when surgery can be performed, it offers the greatest chance for curing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
A doctor has more than one surgical option available to treat a patient with lung cancer. Each lung is comprised of lobes; if the tumor is small enough, it may be possible to perform a wedge resection and remove a portion of the affected lobe. In more severe cases, a lobectomy may be necessary, during which the entire lobe is taken. In the worst case scenario, the doctor may choose to perform a pneumonectomy; this requires the removal of the entire lung, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy incorporates the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells in the body. As the Mayo Clinic explains, it may be administered as a first-line treatment--meaning it is chosen above other treatments--or in addition to surgical treatment.
For patients with NSCLC, the doctor may use it prior to surgery in an effort to shrink the lung tumor, after surgery to kill stray cancer cells or as the main treatment for patients who cannot undergo surgery to remove their tumor.
Patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) receive chemotherapy for a variety of reasons, depending on the stage of their cancer. In the early stages, according to the ACS, chemotherapy is almost always a necessity because the cancer spreads so quickly. When in the middle stage, chemotherapy follows surgery if surgery is an option. In some cases, however, the cancer at this point is too severe and treatment is given--often with radiation--as the main treatment. In patients with extensive SCLC, chemotherapy is basically given to help relieve symptoms and extend the length of a patient's life.
Radiation
Radiation uses high-powered energy beams to destroy cancer cells. This treatment allows the doctor to direct the beams specifically at the site of the cancer, thus destroying small areas of cells in a specific area the doctor could not see during surgery.
Radiation can be used in combination with surgery, chemotherapy or both. In some cases, as the ACS notes, it may be the main treatment choice. Doctors use radiation therapy to treat both NSCLC and SCLC; the difference in purpose lies in the stage of the cancer. If the cancer is in the early stage, it may be to prevent recurrence, while if the cancer is in a late stage the purpose is to make the patient comfortable and extend his life by months or years.
