Treatment overview for non-small cell lung cancer

Your doctors will plan your treatment by taking into account a number of things, including your age, general health, the type and size of the tumour, and whether it has begun to spread.

The stage| of the cancer is very important in determining treatment. People with non-small cell lung cancer are given different types of treatment depending on the stage of their cancer.

Surgery|, chemotherapy| and radiotherapy| are all commonly used. 

Treatment according to stage 

Stage 1

Stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer can often be removed with surgery. If people have other medical problems, or aren't fit enough to have surgery, radiotherapy may be given instead. Chemotherapy is sometimes used after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. It's also sometimes given before surgery and/or radiotherapy. This is called neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.

Occasionally radiofrequency ablation (RFA)  |may be used. This is only likely to be suggested if other treatments aren't suitable for you. RFA is only available at some cancer centres so you may have to travel for treatment.

Stage 2

It may be possible to remove stage 2 non-small cell lung cancer with surgery. Radiotherapy may be used for people who aren't fit enough for surgery or choose not to have it. Chemotherapy is often given following surgery or radiotherapy to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.

Stage 3

Stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer can sometimes be removed with surgery, although this is often not possible because it may have spread too far. Chemotherapy may sometimes be given before an operation (neo-adjuvant treatment).

Sometimes chemotherapy or radiotherapy are given after surgery (adjuvant treatment).

If surgery isn't possible, chemotherapy may be given instead. Radiotherapy may sometimes be given after the chemotherapy. You may also be treated with a biological therapy|.

Stage 4

Stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, or is affecting more than one lobe of the lung, is often treated with chemotherapy. The aim is to control symptoms and maintain a good quality of life for as long as possible. Sometimes a biological therapy may be used if chemotherapy is no longer working. Radiotherapy may be used to shrink the cancer and reduce symptoms. Other treatments to relieve symptoms, such as laser therapy|, cryosurgery| and photodynamic therapy| may also be used.