Other treatments for non-small cell lung cancer

Cryosurgery Back to top

Cryosurgery, or cryotherapy, uses extreme cold to freeze and destroy cancer cells.

Cryotherapy can only deal with very small amounts of tumour, so it isn't an alternative to more common treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Cryotherapy is mainly used in the rare situation where the tumour has grown into the main airway leading into the lungs, called the trachea. This causes the trachea to narrow, which leads to breathlessness. Cryotherapy can help ease the obstruction.

Using a bronchoscope|, the doctor puts an instrument called a cryoprobe close to the tumour. Liquid nitrogen is then circulated through the probe to freeze the tumour.

Cryosurgery is still a relatively new treatment for lung cancer, and is not widely available in the UK, so you may have to travel for treatment.

Diathermy Back to top

Diathermy (or electrocautery) uses an electrical current passed through a probe to destroy cancer cells. It can be used on its own or sometimes with internal radiotherapy|.

The probe is put down a tube (bronchoscope) that is inserted into your windpipe by a doctor. If your airway is blocked, diathermy can make it easier for internal radiotherapy to be carried out.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) Back to top

This treatment uses lasers or other light sources, combined with a light-sensitive drug (sometimes called a photosensitising agent) to destroy cancer cells.

The light-sensitive drug is given as a liquid into a vein. Once the drug is taken up by the cancer cells, the laser light is directed at the tumour using a bronchoscope|.

PDT will make you temporarily sensitive to light so you'll need to avoid bright light for between a couple of days and a few months, depending on the photosensitising drug that is used. Other side effects include swelling, inflammation, breathlessness and a cough.

PDT can sometimes be used if the cancer is only growing into the wall of one of the main airways (endobronchial cancer) and is at a very early stage.

It is still being researched as a treatment for advanced lung cancer and is not suitable for everyone. Your doctor can give you more information.

PDT is only available at some centres.

We have more detailed information about photodynamic therapy|.