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About Lung Cancer

More than ever, there are more cancer treatments than just chemotherapy

Working with your thoracic oncologist, a personalized approach can be created based on a few essential factors about your lung cancer.

How Lung Cancer is Treated

The two major types of lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), have different treatment pathways. Using genetic information about the type of tumor and stage of the disease allows healthcare teams to create personalized cancer treatments for lung cancer patients.

Treatments may be used as standalone measures, and some may be used as helper treatments in combination with others. Clinical Trials bridge the gap between research and treatment by testing new approaches to treatment.

Your team of lung cancer physicians may include thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, and pathologists. Treatments that are individualized to work with a patient’s specific lung cancer may help them avoid treatments that are unlikely to work. Individualized treatments also help to decrease the side effects of treatment.

Treatments

  • Surgery

    Surgery might be an option for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It typically provides the best chance to cure the disease at this stage.
  • Radiation

    Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to destroy cancer cells. The type of radiation therapy most often used to treat SCLC is called external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Techniques include: Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT),  Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).
  • Chemotherapy

    Chemotherapy uses pills, medicines injected in your veins, or both to shrink or kill cancers. This treatment may be used alone or with radiation before or after surgery. Prepare for chemotherapy by learning what to expect.
  • Combination Therapy

    Combination therapy is the use of more than one medication to treat lung cancer. It is used for both non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
  • Immunotherapy

    Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer The immune system within our bodies is very powerful. But, cancer cells can hide from the immune system. Recently, scientists have found ways to use the body’s own immune response to fight the cancer.
  • Targeted Therapies

    Targeted therapies are a type of personalized medicine that specifically target genetic biomarkers (indicators of lung cancer presence ) in cancer cells.
  • Small Cell Lung Cancer

    Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer. Several factors make it challenging to treat with long-term success.

Clinical trials are tomorrow’s treatments today

It’s important for patients to have open and honest conversations with their healthcare team to explore all available options, including clinical trials, and make informed decisions about their treatment plan.

Learn more about Clinical Trials