The treatment you have for secondary lung cancer depends on:
- the primary cancer
- your general health
- your preferences.
Treatment is usually with drugs or treatments that are used for the primary cancer.
Usually the aim of treatment is to:
- control the cancer
- treat the symptoms.
With certain cancers, the aim may be to try to cure the cancer. Your cancer doctor and specialist nurse will talk to you about treatment options. You can ask them any questions you may have. You and your doctor can decide together on the best treatment plan for you.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. It is often given to:
- shrink and control secondary cancers in the lung
- reduce symptoms.
Chemotherapy can be given into a vein (intravenously) or as tablets. The chemotherapy drug you have depends on whether you have had chemotherapy before and how long ago. You usually have your treatment in a chemotherapy day unit.
Hormonal therapy
If you have a cancer that relies on hormones to grow, such as breast or prostate cancer, you may have hormonal therapy. The type of hormonal therapy you have depends on which hormonal treatments you have already had. There are several different types of hormonal therapy. They are usually given as tablets or injections.
Targeted therapy or immunotherapy drugs
Targeted therapy drugs interfere with the way cancer cells signal or interact with each other. This stops them growing and dividing. You may have a targeted therapy drug as an injection into a vein (intravenously) or as tablets.
Immunotherapy drugs help stimulate your immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells. Depending on the type of tumour you have, you might have an immunotherapy drug.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy treats cancer by using high-energy x-rays. You might have a short course of radiotherapy to relieve symptoms of secondary lung cancer, such as breathlessness or coughing up blood.
Surgery
Occasionally, surgery to remove the secondary lung cancer may be possible. It is usually only done if the secondary cancer:
- is small
- is in one area of the lung
- has not spread anywhere else in the body.
Tumour ablation
Tumour ablation uses heat or cold to destroy cancer cells. Doctors sometimes use it instead of surgery for secondary lung cancer.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) uses heat to destroy cancer cells. It may be done under a general anaesthetic or using a local anaesthetic.
The doctor puts a needle into the tumour, usually using a CT scan to make sure it is in the right place. An electrical current (radio-waves or microwaves) is passed through the needle into the tumour. The current heats the cancer cells to a high temperature. This destroys (ablates) them.
Cryoablation (cryotherapy) is when extreme cold is used to destroy cancer cells.
Clinical trials
You may be asked to take part in a clinical trial. Your doctor will talk to you about the treatment, so you fully understand the trial. You may decide not to take part, or to withdraw from a trial at any stage. You will then receive the best standard treatment.