There are now many different lung cancer treatments. How your lung cancer is treated will depend on a variety of factors, including the type of lung cancer you have, its size and location and the stage of the cancer. Your treatment may also depend on your general health and fitness.
Over recent years, we have seen great advances in how lung cancer is treated. As a result, many people are now able to live well and live for longer with all types and stages of lung cancer than they did before.
In this section, we will provide information about the different types of treatments for lung cancer, including:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy
- Targeted therapies
- Immunotherapy.
We will also provide information about clinical trials and complementary treatments, such as acupuncture and massage.
Surgery
Surgery is usually the preferred treatment for early-stage lung cancer. Surgery may be considered in some cases for people with late-stage disease if doctors believe it could help alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a common way to treat both small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. It may be used as a single treatment, or in combination with other treatments, such as immunotherapy.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is a type of cancer treatment which uses high energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells while avoiding normal cells. It is given in small individual doses aimed precisely at the tumour over a specified period.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapies are used to treat genetically mutated lung cancers, such as EGFR+ and ALK+. These drugs target these specific mutations and block the processes that causes cancer to grow.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a drug treatment used for some types of lung cancers, including locally advanced or advanced non-small cell lung cancer. immunotherapy drugs help the body’s immune system find, attack and destroy cancer cells.
Clinical trials
Clinical trials are an essential part of medical research. They are a way of finding out if new lung cancer treatments are better than the current ways to treat this disease.
Complementary therapies
There is also a variety of ways to treat the side effects of lung cancer and improve your quality of life. These are called complementary, or holistic therapies and include massage, reiki and acupuncture.
Answering your questions about treatment
We are here to answer any questions you have about certain treatments, or about your treatment options. You can call us on 0800 358 7200 or send us a message.