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How is lung cancer treated?

Lung cancer treatments include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of therapies. One of the most important factors to consider when planning your treatment is the stage of the cancer. An isolated tumor in the lung may be treated with surgery while cancer that has spread to other parts of the body may be treated with chemotherapy.

Another important factor to consider is your performance status. Performance status is a medical term that a doctor uses to describe how you perform your daily tasks. The more active and independent you are, the better your performance status is, and the more likely you are to tolerate certain treatments.

What is a thoracic surgeon?

A thoracic surgeon is a doctor who performs surgery to the chest cavity, including the lungs, ribs, sternum, diaphragm and associated muscles.

Surgery

Depending on the type and stage of cancer, surgery may be used to remove the tumor and some of the surrounding lung tissue. In some cases the thoracic surgeon cuts out the tumor rather than taking out the entire lobe of the lung. This is called a wedge resection. If the entire lobe is removed, the surgery is called a lobectomy.

If the surgeon removes the entire lung, the surgery is called a pneumonectomy. The patient is usually in the hospital for five to seven days. Your remaining lung function, overall health and the type of surgery will all determine how long you stay in the hospital.

Video-Assisted Thorascopic Surgery (VATS)

A thoracic surgeon uses a scope (thorascope) that is passed through a small incision in the chest in order to remove a sample of lung tissue. VATS allows for a less invasive procedure than traditional thoracotomy, leading to faster recovery and the ability to begin other treatment sooner.

Surgery may be the first step in treating your lung cancer. However, sometimes it is necessary to reduce the size of the tumor with chemotherapy or radiation therapy before the surgeon can remove the tumor.

What is a medical oncologist?

A medical oncologist is a doctor who is specially trained to diagnose and treat cancer with chemotherapy. The oncologist manages your overall cancer treatment.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves the use of powerful drugs to attack the cancer cells throughout the body. In addition to killing cancer cells, chemotherapy also affects some normal cells. Chemotherapy may be administered directly into a vein or by mouth. Chemotherapy can be used along with surgery or radiation. Chemotherapy may travel to all parts of the body to destroy cancer cells wherever they may be.

What should I expect with chemotherapy? These drugs are given with a variety of treatment schedules and individual treatment periods referred to as "cycles." Treatment cycles may be one to four weeks long with breaks in between treatments to allow for recovery from side effects. Your medical oncologist will explain the details of chemotherapy regimens as well as possible side effects.

What are the side effects of chemotherapy? The specific side effects depend on which drug you are receiving. Side effects vary among individuals and may differ depending on the drug combination used. Patients are monitored closely for side effects and appropriate measures are taken to decrease the severity of these symptoms.

Some of the most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, decreases in blood counts with possible infection and fatigue, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, and hair loss. It is important to notify your physician if you are having problems or have questions after receiving chemotherapy to address potentially serious side effects. Patients may need to be seen in the office or hospitalized to deal with the side effects of chemotherapy.

After treatment, your oncologist will provide follow-up care to monitor your progress in case any further treatment is needed.

Biological Therapy

Biological therapy (or biotherapy, or immunotherapy) is a type of treatment that works with different parts of your immune system to help fight cancer or help lessen side effects from other cancer treatment such as chemotherapy. While chemotherapy attacks cancer cells directly, biological therapy helps the immune system fight cancer by interfering with cancer cell growth. Biological therapy may also indirectly help healthy cells and may help to repair or replace normal cells that are damaged by other cancer treatments.

What is a radiation oncologist?

A radiation oncologist is a physician who administers radiation therapy as a treatment for cancer.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to destroy lung cancer cells, shrink tumors and prevent cancer cells from dividing and spreading. Some patients with lung cancer will receive radiation therapy to relieve symptoms or treat disease that has spread outside the lung.

Radiation therapy treatments are usually administered five days each week. Depending on the technique used, treatments may take ten to thirty minutes to deliver. Free and accessible parking is available just outside the Radiation Oncology Department entrance. Treatments are painless and well-tolerated. They do not require intravenous medications or an empty stomach. Specific information about your treatment and side effects will be explained by the radiation oncologist and nurse team.

Radiofrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency ablation is electrical energy that is used to create heat. During the procedure an ablation probe is placed directly into the target tissue. The heat ultimately results in the destruction of the cancer. Radiofrequency ablation is an alternative form of treatment that is offered to the patient when other forms of therapy are not an option.

Virginia Piper Cancer Institute
Abbott Northwestern Hospital
Piper Lung Cancer Program
800 East 28th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-863-5310
Medical Director: Michael Bowen, MD
Nurse Coordinator: Jody Eifert, RN

First published: 10/17/2005
Last updated: 02/08/2007

Reviewed by: Michael Bowen, MD; Paula Colwell