Lung Cancer

Chemotherapy

What it does

Kills rapidly dividing cancer cells in the body.

Common drugs

Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Paclitaxel, Pemetrexed.

Note

Frequently used prior to or following surgery or with radiation in advanced stages.

Targeted Therapy

What it does

Inhibits mutations that fuel cancer growth.

Common drugs

Osimertinib, Crizotinib, Alectinib.

Note

For tumors with EGFR, ALK, or ROS1 mutations.

Immunotherapy

What it does

Assists immune system in identifying and targeting cancer.

Common drugs

Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab, Atezolizumab.

Note

Standard for advanced NSCLC with PD-L1 expression.

External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)

What it does

Strikes lung tumors with focused radiation beams from outside the body.

Treatment duration

4–6 weeks.

Note

Frequently used with chemotherapy in locally advanced stages.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)

What it does

Administers high-dose radiation to small tumors with precise accuracy.

Treatment duration

1–5 sessions.

Note

Best suited for early-stage lung cancer in non-surgical patients.

Lobectomy

What it does

Resection of one lobe of the lung by surgery.

Treated for

Early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Recovery

4–6 weeks.

Pneumonectomy

What it does

Total removal of one lung.

Treated for

Large or centrally placed tumors.

Recovery

6–8 weeks, longer with complications.

Segmentectomy/Wedge Resection

What it does

Resection of a small localized piece of lung.

Treated for

Early-stage cancer when preservation of the lung is important.

Recovery

2–4 weeks.

Chemoradiation

Goal

Shrinks tumors and controls spread.

What it involves

Concurrent chemotherapy and radiation.

Used for

Stage III NSCLC and stage III limited-stage SCLC.

Targeted & Immunotherapy

Goal

Delay disease progression and extend survival.

What it involves

Tailored drug treatments according to tumor genetics.

Used for

Advanced NSCLC and post-progression therapy.

Palliative Care

Goal

Improve quality of life by alleviating symptoms.

Used for

Pain management, breathlessness control, emotional support; provided in addition to active treatment.

Main treatments:

surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy.

Early stage (I–II):

primarily surgery (lobectomy, wedge resection, pneumonectomy).

Surgery

may be followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy to reduce recurrence risk.

Stage III:

typically treated with chemoradiation; surgery considered in select cases.

Advanced/metastatic (Stage IV):

systemic therapies including chemotherapy, targeted drugs (EGFR/ALK inhibitors), immunotherapy.

Palliative therapies (photodynamic, laser)

used for symptom relief.

Subtype of NSCLC,

typically centrally located.

Early stage

treated with surgery.

Locally advanced

treated with chemoradiation.

Limited targeted therapy options;

chemotherapy and immunotherapy are key.

Immunotherapy (e.g., pembrolizumab)

standard in advanced stages.

Most common

lung cancer subtype, often peripheral.

Treated similarly to other NSCLC

types with surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy.

Molecular markers (EGFR, ALK, ROS1)

guide targeted therapies in advanced disease.

Rare pleural cancer

Rare pleural cancer mainly due to asbestos exposure.

Surgery options:

pleurectomy/decortication, extrapleural pneumonectomy for selected patients.

Chemotherapy standard

with pemetrexed and cisplatin.

Radiation

to control local symptoms.

Emerging immunotherapy

and clinical trials are important.

• Also called carcinoma in situ or Tis.
• Cancer cells are confined to the innermost lining of the lung airways.
• Non-invasive at this stage.
• Highly treatable with surgery; excellent prognosis.

• Tumor is ≤3 cm and confined to the lung without lymph node involvement.
• Tumors classified as T1 or T2a, N0, M0.
• No spread to lymph nodes or distant sites.
• Treatment most often involves surgery; radiation is an option if surgery is not possible.

• Tumor larger than 3 cm but ≤7 cm, or has invaded nearby structures; no nodal metastasis.
• Tumors classified as T2b or T3, N0, M0.
• May include limited spread to adjacent lung tissue or visceral pleura.
• Treatment consists of surgery and often adjuvant chemotherapy; radiation may also be added.

• Tumor of any size with spread to ipsilateral or contralateral lymph nodes (N1, N2, or N3).
• Tumor may invade chest wall, diaphragm, or other nearby structures (T3 or T4).
• Divided into IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC based on nodal involvement and tumor size.
• Treatment usually requires multimodal therapy including chemotherapy, radiation, and occasionally surgery.

• Cancer has spread to distant organs such as brain, liver, adrenal glands, or opposite lung lobe (M1).
• Subcategories include M1a, M1b, and M1c depending on extent.
• Usually not curable at this stage; systemic therapy used to control symptoms and prolong survival.