A treatment plan will be developed to fit each patient's needs and may include one or a combination of the following treatments.
Surgery
Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for early-stage Lung Cancer that remains within the lung. Surgeons would remove the lobe of the lung where the tumour is located, as well as the surrounding lymph nodes. Minimally invasive ‘keyhole’ surgery is increasingly performed in suitable patients which results in less pain and faster recovery. Other surgical options are also possible, such as pneumonectomy which removes the entire lung, lobectomy which removes a section of the lung, and segmentectomy which removes part of a lobe. In general, lobectomy is the preferred surgical option for Non-small cell Lung Cancer.
Chemotherapy
Cancer cells are killed using drugs in a process called chemotherapy. One or more drugs may be given via an injection through a vein. The drugs are administered in a series of treatments over a period of weeks or months, allowing you to rest in between with breaks. It can be used as a first line treatment for more advanced cancer, or for selected patients before or after surgery or in other patients combined with radiation therapy.
Targeted Therapies
Targeted therapies are a form of medical treatment involving the use of drugs or other substances. These drugs block or interfere with specific molecules that help the tumour to grow. They are usually used for stage 3 and 4 cancer with tumours that are unresponsive to other treatments. Two commonly used drugs for Lung Cancer are:
- Erlotinib (Tarceva), gefitinib (Iressa): Tarceva blocks the growth and spread of tumours by targeting a specific protein which causes cancer cells to divide and grow. This protein is found on the surface of Lung Cancer cells. These drugs are taken as a pill every day.
- Bevacizumab (Avastin): New blood vessels are formed by cancers to bring nutrients to the tumour. Avastin is a form of intravenous therapy that inhibits the formation of these new blood vessels. It is taken every two to three weeks.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to kill the cancer cells. In a procedure called External Beam Radiation, radiation therapy is directed at the Lung Cancer from outside your body. Other forms of radiation include stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) that is used to treat very early stage Lung Cancer when surgery is not possible. SBRT uses very focused beams of high-dose radiation administered on one or a few days. Several beams are directed at the tumour from different angles. In another type of radiation, brachytherapy involves placing radioactive material directly into the cancer. As the radiation travels a shorter distance from the source, the effects on surrounding healthy tissues are minimised.