The second-most common type of cancer affecting individuals in the country, if the test for lung cancer comes up with positive results, the treatment will depend on multiple factors. Things like the type, stage, and severity of cancer, patient’s health and medical history are considered before selecting the treatment method. Mentioned below are multiple ways in which cases of lung cancer can be treated.

Treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC):

• Initial stage: Surgery is done to remove the lymph nodes. If due to any reason, surgery is ruled out, radiotherapy is carried out. Chemotherapy could be done after surgery or after radiotherapy.
• Locally advanced: This is stage III of cancer and can be treated by either surgery or radiotherapy, followed by chemotherapy. The decision will be based on how aggressively the cancer has spread.
• Advanced: Palliative radiation therapy, palliative chemotherapy, and targeted therapy can be considered to alleviate pain and improve quality of life.

Treatment for small cell lung cancer (SCLC):

• In stages I-III of SCLC, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are offered. Surgery is normally not necessary at these stages.
• In stage IV, the main treatment is palliative chemotherapy. If cancer has spread to other parts of the body, palliative radiotherapy may be done.

Surgery: When surgery is recommended for NSCLC, there are multiple surgical options available to remove the tumors. An open thoracotomy requires a cut between the ribs and the chest. Video-assisted keyhole procedure called thoracoscopic surgery is becoming increasingly common these days. These ensure faster surgeries, shorter stays in the hospital, and faster recovery. Open surgeries are done only when other less invasive options are ruled out.

Thermal ablation: Probes or needles guided by a CT scan are inserted into the cancer cells and are destroyed by heat. This is a painless procedure and is used if the cancer is localized and if the patient is not suitable for surgery or radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy: This uses X-rays to treat all types of lung cancer and for all stages. In the case of curative treatment, 20-30 treatments over 4-6 weeks is done. For palliative treatment, a course of 1-10 treatments is chosen. Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy is a focused therapy for smaller NSCLC tumors which are away from blood vessels, the spinal cord and airways. Hyper-fractionated radiotherapy is done to treat SCLC. Side effects of radiotherapy include heartburn, difficulty in swallowing during and after treatment. Changes in the skin in the form of redness, and dryness may also be noticed. Fatigue, cough and shortness of breath are common side effects of radiotherapy.

Chemotherapy: Cytotoxic drugs are anti-cancer drugs administered intravenously to destroy cancer cells without harming healthy cells. This therapy can be done before or after surgery, before or during radiotherapy. This option can also be offered as a palliative treatment to reduce the pain and improve the quality of life if the disease is too advanced to cure. The number of cycles of chemotherapy will depend on how the body responds to the treatment. Side effects include anemia, mouth ulcers, hair loss, nausea, and vomiting. Patients are highly susceptible to infection after a chemotherapy session as the white blood cells are lowered during the therapy.

It is important to talk to the doctors-in-charge to understand the prognosis, the duration and side effects of each form of treatment. It is also important to discuss the treatment plans with family and friends who play a huge role in supporting the patient during recovery.