Treatment Options For Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Radiosurgery

Radiosurgery, an alternative to open surgery, places metal pieces around the cancerous tissue as markers for the machine used during surgery. They are usually placed up to 3 weeks before the intended treatment session. A needle may be used to avoid incisions, though small incisions may be necessary in some cases. Radiation is then aimed at the area inside these markers from several angles simultaneously. This makes the radiation therapy more powerful. In fact, because of the use of radiation in this method, many consider radiosurgery an advanced method of radiation therapy.

Get the details on one of the most commonly used treatments for cancer overall and how it works for non-small cell lung cancer next.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is perhaps the most popular cancer treatment out there. It is commonly paired with radiation therapy and can also be used before surgery to shrink the size of the patient’s lung tumor. Patients may even undergo a round of chemotherapy after surgery to get any remaining cancerous tissue. Like radiation, chemotherapy may also be used when patients are unable to undergo surgery.

Chemotherapy uses potent medications to kill any cells in the body that are multiplying or dividing. Since cancerous cells divide more rapidly, multiply faster, and do not die in the same way as healthy cells, this treatment often gets to them first. However, healthy cells divide as well. This means chemotherapy can also kill healthy cells in the process.

Continue reading to find out how the immune system is employed to treat non-small cell lung cancer next.