4 1.1 Treatments for Lung Cancer
Current Therapeutic Treatments for Lung Cancer
The therapies utilized for the treatment of lung cancer depends on its stage. With that in mind let’s develop a bit of an understanding of the different stages of lung cancer.
Stage 0
Cancer cells only found in linings or air sacs.[1]
Stage 1
A tumour 3cm or smaller has developed within the lung.[2] 
[3]
Stage 2
Tumour is between 4 and 7cm, or grown into other ares of the lung, or increased in number of tumours.[4]
Stage 3
Tumour has grown to larger than 5cm, there are multiple tumours, and the tumours have spread to the lymph nodes.[6]
Stage 4
The cancer has spread to other parts of the body.[8]
The intervention with the highest rates of curing lung cancer is surgery. Excising the tumour is the most surefire way of ensuring that tumour growth is halted and metastasis is prevented. However, there are several prognostic factors that affect the likelihood of surgery. If a patient’s tumours have developed beyond stage three, a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is prescribed instead.[10]
Prognostic Factors for Surgery
Main factors:
- Tumour stage
- Performance status
Other factors:
- Degree of weight loss
- Sex
- Serum concentration of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
- Presence of metastasis[11]
Chemotherapy kills cancer cells, however, it also kills healthy cells and has several intense side effects. These include but are not limited to low blood cell counts, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, pain, and organ damage.[12] For patients with stage 4 cancer, palliative care with chemotherapy is recommended, as overall survival rates are low.[13]
- Stages of non–small cell lung cancer - Canadian Cancer Society. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2019, from https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/lung/staging/?region=on ↵
- Stages of non–small cell lung cancer - Canadian Cancer Society. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2019, from https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/lung/staging/?region=on ↵
- Lung Cancer, Stage IA: Image Details - NCI Visuals Online. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2019, from https://visualsonline.cancer.gov/details.cfm?imageid=9028 ↵
- Stages of non–small cell lung cancer – Canadian Cancer Society. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2019, from https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/lung/staging/?region=on ↵
- Lung Cancer, Stage IIA: Image Details - NCI Visuals Online. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2019, from https://visualsonline.cancer.gov/details.cfm?imageid=9029 ↵
- Stages of non–small cell lung cancer – Canadian Cancer Society. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2019, from https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/lung/staging/?region=on ↵
- Lung Cancer, Stage IIIA (1): Image Details - NCI Visuals Online. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2019, from https://visualsonline.cancer.gov/details.cfm?imageid=9030 ↵
- Stages of non–small cell lung cancer – Canadian Cancer Society. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2019, from https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/lung/staging/?region=on ↵
- Lung Cancer, Stage IVA: Image Details - NCI Visuals Online. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2019, from https://visualsonline.cancer.gov/details.cfm?imageid=12227 ↵
- Hoffman P, Mauer A, Vokes E. Lung cancer. Treatment and Research. Duarte USA: Springer, 2016 DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(00)82038-3 ↵
- Hoffman P, Mauer A, Vokes E. Lung cancer. Treatment and Research. Duarte USA: Springer, 2016 DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(00)82038-3 ↵
- Side effects of chemotherapy - Canadian Cancer Society. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2019, from https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/diagnosis-and-treatment/chemotherapy-and-other-drug-therapies/chemotherapy/side-effects-of-chemotherapy/?region=on ↵
- Hoffman P, Mauer A, Vokes E. Lung cancer. Treatment and Research. Duarte USA: Springer, 2016 DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(00)82038-3 ↵