Lung cancer can be of two types: Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is more common, but spreads slowly to other parts of the body as compared to Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), which is not very common but spreads aggressively to other parts of the body. The treatment depends upon the type of lung cancer, stage of the disease and the health and fitness of the patient. Surgery involves removal of the tumor and can be used only when the malignant growth is relatively localized and if the patient is fit enough to undergo surgery. The tumor can also be destroyed by focusing x-rays on it. This procedure is called radiation and it affects the genetic material, i.e. DNA of the tumor cells halting their rapid division and growth. However, radiation can also affect the normal cells that it encounters during treatment. Radiation is used in patients who cannot undergo surgery due to medical complications.
In chemotherapy, anti-tumor drugs are administered either through an injection into a vein or by placing a catheter inside a large vein. Chemotherapy is used for all stages of the disorder and can increase the effectiveness of radiation treatment by weakening cancer cells.
For NSCLC that is localized, surgery is generally used. Chemotherapy, with or without radiation, and radiation alone is used for treating SCLC. However, a combination of therapies is most effective and is the rule when the cancer has spread to areas near the lung. Radiation is used for decreasing the tumor size before surgery and eliminating remnant abnormal cells after surgery. It can also be used to treat lung cancer that has spread to the brain. Residual tumor cells can also be eliminated by chemotherapy. Recent research suggests that a combination of chemotherapy and radiation is more effective than radiation alone. When the disease has become incurable, medication, chemotherapy and radiation are used to treat the symptoms without eliminating the tumor.
