Understanding Your Lung Cancer Treatment Journey

Treatment Options Overview

Surgery

• Lobectomy: Removal of an entire lobe of the lung
• Wedge resection: Removal of a small section containing the tumor
• Pneumonectomy: Removal of entire lung
• Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS): Minimally invasive approach

Radiation Therapy

• External beam radiation: Precisely targeted radiation from outside the body
• Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT): High-dose radiation to small tumors
• Brachytherapy: Internal radiation delivery

Systemic Therapies

Chemotherapy

• Platinum-based combinations
• Targeted delivery systems
• Schedule and duration based on cancer stage

Targeted Therapy

• EGFR inhibitors: For specific genetic mutations
• ALK inhibitors: For ALK-positive tumors
• Other molecular targets: ROS1, BRAF, etc.

Immunotherapy

• Checkpoint inhibitors: PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors
• Combination approaches: With chemotherapy or other treatments

Treatment Selection Factors

• Cancer type and stage
• Genetic profile of tumor
• Overall health status
• Patient preferences

Support During Treatment

• Side effect management
• Nutritional support
• Physical therapy
• Mental health resources

Follow-up Care

• Regular monitoring schedule
• Imaging and blood tests
• Long-term survival planning