Surgical Treatments for Non Small Cell Lung Cancer

Surgery may be chosen as the best course of treatment, especially if the cancer is detected in its early stages and hasn't spread to other areas of the body. There are four types of surgery used for non small cell lung cancer:

• Resection - This surgery removes a small part of the lung where the tumor is. The procedure is referred to as a wedge resection if a small triangular slice of tissue is taken, or a segmental resection when the tissue sample is a little larger.

• Sleeve Resection - A surgical procedure that removes part of the bronchus.

• Lobectomy - Removal of an entire lobe (section) of the lung is done with this procedure.

• Pneumonectomy - A pneumonectomy removes the entire lung.

Pulmonary Lobectomy from A.D.A.M.

Surgery isn't always an option. Some tumors are inoperable, or the person may not be up to surgery for other medical reasons.

Non-Surgical Lung Cancer Treatments

• Chemotherapy involves using anti-cancer drugs to kill cancer cells in the body, or to keep existing cells from dividing. Even after surgery, some cells may remain, and chemotherapy may be added to the treatment plan. Most chemotherapy is given either by injection into a vein (IV) or by catheter. A few drugs are given in pill form.

What is Chemotherapy?
Common Side Effects of Chemotherapy

• Radiation Therapy treats the cancer by using high energy rays to kill cancer cells. It can be used before surgery to shrink tumors, or after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. Sometimes it is used in combination with chemotherapy as a primary treatment plan instead of surgery. Most radiation therapy is administered by a machine (external radiation) with the rays aimed directly at the tumor. There is another form of radiation treatment(internal radiation), in which a small capsule of radioactive material is implanted near or in the tumor.

A Guide to Radiation Therapy

• Laser Therapy uses a highly accurate pinpoint of laser light to kill cancer cells.

Laser Therapy from A.D.A.M.

• Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) - this therapy involves using a laser. A special chemical is injected into the bloodstream. This chemical travels to cells all over the body, and is absorbed by them. In normal cells, the chemical leaves quickly, but it remains for a longer time in cancer cells. A laser is then aimed at the cancer which activates the chemical. The chemical then kills the cancer cell it is in. This therapy can be used to relieve symptoms of lung cancer, such as bleeding, or blocked airways. It's also an option for treating very small tumors which may not be suitably treated in more conventional ways.

• Watchful Waiting - like the name implies, this treatment involves closely monitoring the patient's condition, watching for symptoms to appear or change in nature.

See Also:

• Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatments
• Cheryl's Story - Diagnosed with Small Cell Lung Cancer

_{Information for this article obtained from NCI, which is a division of The National Institutes of Health (NIH).}