Lung Cancer Health Center

Your doctor may refer you to a specialist who has experience treating lung cancer, or you may ask for a referral. You may also have a team of specialists caring for you.

Your healthcare team may include the following specialists who treat lung cancer:

• thoracic (chest) surgeon
• thoracic surgical oncologist
• medical oncologists, a general cancer specialist who can prescribe chemotherapy
• radiation oncologists, a specialist who designs and manages radiation therapy

Your team may also include a pulmonologist (a lung specialist), a respiratory therapist, an oncology nurse, and a registered dietitian.

Lung cancer is hard to control with current treatments. For that reason, many doctors encourage patients with this disease to consider taking part in a clinical trial. Clinical trials are an important option for people with all stages of lung cancer.

Surgery for lung cancer removes the tissue that contains the tumor. The surgeon also removes nearby lymph nodes. In essence, the surgeon removes part or all of the lung:

• A small part of the lung (wedge resection or segmentectomy). The surgeon removes the tumor and a small part of the lung.
• A lobe of the lung (lobectomy or sleeve lobectomy). The surgeon removes a lobe of the lung. This is the most common surgery for lung cancer.
• All of the lung (pneumonectomy). The surgeon removes the entire lung.

After lung surgery, air and fluid collect in the chest. A chest tube allows the fluid to drain. Also, a nurse or respiratory therapist will teach you coughing and breathing exercises. You'll need to do the exercises several times a day.

Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It affects cells only in the treated area. You may receive external radiation. This is the most common type of radiation therapy for lung cancer. The radiation comes from a large machine outside your body. Most people go to a hospital or clinic for treatment. Treatments are usually 5 days a week for several weeks. Another type of radiation therapy is internal radiation (brachytherapy). Internal radiation is seldom used for people with lung cancer. The radiation comes from a seed, wire or another device put inside your body.

Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs enter the bloodstream and can affect cancer cells all over the body. Usually, more than one drug is given. Anticancer drugs for lung cancer are usually given through a vein (intravenous), but some anticancer drugs can be taken by mouth. Chemotherapy is given in cycles. You have a rest period after each treatment period. The length of the rest period and the number of cycles depend on the anticancer drugs used. You may have your treatment in a clinic, at the doctor's office, or at home. Some people may need to stay in the hospital for treatment.