Treatment

Lung Cancer

Once a patient is diagnosed with lung cancer it is characterized at a certain stage, depending on how advanced the cancer has developed. To determine this a chest x-ray will be taken, and a physical exam, as well as some lab work will be done.

Surgical treatment is still considered the mainstream treatment. Patients in the early stages (one, two) may be able to find a cure through this treatment. The removal of a lobe of the lung, or possibly a wedge resection of the lung, is what is done most often in surgery. In the past twenty years surgery for lung cancer has progressed a great deal. Through limited incisions, and pain control, this surgery can be relatively low risk. Risk for major problems in this type of surgery stay in the lower 1 or 2 percent.

Radiation would be the alternative, or second stage of treatment. If surgery failed to remove a portion of the cancer, radiation might be used to attempt to finish the job. If there are complications related to the lymph nodes, than radiation will probably be the first alternative treatment of choice.

Chemotherapy has recently been found to be a vital treatment in lung cancer in the following situations. Although not a cure, chemotherapy can be used to help in survival after other therapies.