When someone is diagnosed with stage 2 non-small cell lung cancer, a common question that arises is the treatment options available. It is important to learn about the available lung cancer treatments. The treatment methods vary considerably among different people. It depends on the particular lung cancer type, location, age of the patient, his general health conditions and how one responds to the treatment. It is important to consider that the treatments as well as the survival rates for lung cancer are improving.
Surgery
Surgery is a standard treatment plan for stage 2 non-small cell lung cancer. Lobectomy is used to remove the lobe of the lung and it offers the best chance to remove the cancer completely. Sleeve resection is used to remove tumor in bronchus of lung while segmental resection is used to remove tumor along with healthy lung tissue. In surgery, the lymph nodes in chest and around the lungs are removed.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy may be recommended for some patients before surgery. It helps to reduce the size of tumor. In some cases where the cancer has spread to bronchial lymph nodes, it is offered after surgery. The most common drugs used include cisplatin, carboplatin and vinorelbine.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is offered for stage 2 non-small cell lung cancer to those who cannot have surgery or chose to not have surgery. It may be provided to people whose lung cancer has not spread beyond the lung.
Chemoradiation
This is also one of the treatment options available to the patients. It is generally recommended to those who cannot have surgery and have a large size of tumor. It is the combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
For those who have lung cancer, treatment options are improving and new radiation techniques are coming up.
What do you think about the treatment options available for lung cancer? Let us know your views in the comments.