Lung cancer will appear in the lives of thousands of people this year, requiring them to choose a path for treating it. If you are diagnosed, learning more about your specific diagnosis can help you and your team select treatment options.
Knowing Your Lung Cancer Type Is the Key to Making Smart Choices
There is more than one type of lung cancer. They include small-cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Each type has subcategories to define the elements of the cancer further.
The subcategories of small-cell lung cancer:
- Small-cell carcinoma
- Combined small-cell carcinoma.
The subcategories of non-small cell lung cancer:
- Large cell lung carcinoma
- Squamous-cell carcinoma
- Adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer.
Large cell lung cancer grows quickly and spreads more rapidly than other forms.
Reportedly around 10% of lung cancer cases fall into this category. This can restrict treatment options. “Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an efficient and potentially effective option for treating inoperable early-stage NSCLC patients,” according to a 2024 article in Cells. This is a more non-invasive treatment application method compared to surgery. The treatment options for large cell lung cancer include “surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, laser therapy, photodynamic therapy (pdt), cryosurgery, and electrocautery,” according to the National Cancer Institute.
Your Stage of Cancer Matters
All lung cancers are grouped into unique stages between 0 and 4. These stages mark the progression of cancer. Stages 0, 1, and 2 are the earliest stages of lung cancer. Stages 3 and 4 are more advanced and tend to require more intense options. There are substages within these stages that are marked by letters.
The stage can significantly affect your treatment options. Stage zero of non-small cell lung cancer is so underdeveloped that it can be completely treated by surgery in most cases. This is not the case for everyone, as those who have serious comorbidities might not be candidates for surgery at all.
The best treatment path for your type of lung cancer may be narrowed by biomarker testing. This testing can help provide a clearer picture of the situation.
Surgery Options Are Not One Size Fits All
If your diagnosis is discovered early on in stages 1 and 2, it is a viable option. Surgeons can perform the procedure without technical assistance or use robotic or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). This reinforces the importance of early screening as a tool to provide people with the strongest options.
According to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, “surgery is generally not recommended for stage 3 lung cancer.” When it goes well, surgery is one of the most effective treatments for lung cancer in the early stages.
Stage III is further dissected into three other parts. Stage III A, B, and C all have different recommendations from the National Cancer Institute. The recommendations expand with each progressive stage.
Some lung cancers can require multiple forms of treatment. In some cases, attempts might be made to shrink a tumor before a surgery happens that attempts to remove it.
Chemotherapy Is Not Automatically Chosen
Chemotherapy can be an effective treatment for lung cancer. It is not recommended in all cases. The type of cancer and the stage of progression impacts treatment recommendations.
If you have been diagnosed with stage three lung cancer, your oncologist could recommend chemotherapy. However, some lung cancers can require multiple forms of treatment.
In some cases, attempts might be made to shrink a tumor before a surgery happens that attempts to remove it. In other cases, patients are instructed to have surgery before beginning a course of chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy Attacks From the Inside Out
The best treatment path for your type of lung can be narrowed by biomarker testing. This testing can help provide a clearer picture of the situation.
Immunotherapy uses the power of a person’s immune system to fight lung cancer. It is administered through the blood stream, orally, or topically. It is not available for all lung cancer cases. Ask your oncologist about biomarker testing can help determine if you’re a candidate for immunotherapy. It can be used in combination with other treatments.
Treatment Options Are Expanding Through Research
The treatment options for each category and stage of lung cancer are growing. Clinical trials are an option for lung cancer treatment that taps into the way that science is moving forward to help those fighting it. Clinical trials provide access to experimental therapies that might not be as widely available. They provide access to those who are informed about cutting-edge research as well. There have been advancements in treating non-small cell lung cancer thanks to clinical trials.