The information on this page was reviewed and approved by
Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science at CTCA.
This page was updated on November 5, 2020.
At Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA), we understand the uncertainty that comes with a lung cancer diagnosis. Our oncologists and supportive care clinicians are committed to helping you understand the complexities of the disease and the array of treatment options available to you, so you can make informed decisions about your care.
Our cancer experts offer a level of expertise that comes from working regularly with cancer patients—every stage, every day. The doctors tap that training and experience in designing a comprehensive care plan specific to your cancer, your stage and your individual needs. At CTCA®, we offer a wide range of lung cancer diagnostic tools and treatments, including immunotherapy, advanced genomic testing and other new options that may be available through clinical trials.
Concerned about your lung cancer risk? Take our five-minute risk assessment, and get an action plan based on your answers.
Various approaches are used to treat lung cancer. Which ones are appropriate for you depends on a number of factors, including your type of lung cancer—either non-small cell or small cell—and the cancer’s stage. Non-small cell lung cancers are usually treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy or a combination of these therapies. Small cell lung cancers are typically treated with radiation and chemotherapy. Your multidisciplinary team of lung cancer experts will answer your questions and recommend treatment options based on your unique diagnosis and needs.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy to treat lung cancer is generally used before surgery to destroy cancer cells, after surgery or radiation to target cancer cells that may survived the treatment, and to treat locally advanced or metastatic disease.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy may be delivered to lung cancer cells from outside the body or from implants placed close to, or inside, tumors in the body.
Immunotherapy
Certain immunotherapy drugs may be used alone or in combination with other therapies to treat specific types of lung cancer.
Interventional pulmonology
Interventional pulmonology techniques may be used alone or in combination with other treatments to diagnose cancer, treat tumors and relieve symptoms that limit breathing or cause pain.
Surgery
Surgery to remove tumors and cancerous tissue from the lungs may be used to treat lung cancer in certain cases.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy drugs may be used alone or in combination with other targeted therapy drugs or treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation or interventional pulmonology.
Lung cancer treatments may cause side effects such as dry mouth, difficulty swallowing and other challenges that may impact your quality of life. Our supportive care clinicians understand that treating the disease is only half the battle and that supporting your well-being is important to your recovery. They help you manage the side effects of cancer and its treatment. Supportive care therapies for lung cancer patients may include:
Every patient has the option of meeting with a registered dietitian.
Learn More
The lungs are two large organs that lie above the diaphragm and under the rib cage. When you breathe in, your lungs absorb oxygen and deliver it to the bloodstream, where it’s pumped throughout the body. When you exhale, the lungs remove carbon dioxide, a waste gas, from the bloodstream. Lung cancer interferes with this vital process and can make breathing more difficult. The disease is the second most common non-skin cancer among men and women in the United States, after prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women. A thorough and accurate cancer diagnosis is the first step in developing a lung cancer treatment plan.
"Just walking into the center, I got such a positive first impression. I got a sense of hope as soon as I walked through the doors. I felt nervous excitement radiate through me. And later on, when I talked to other patients, they experienced the same feeling and sensation. Everybody's friendly, they greet you warmly, and you just feel secure. I felt like I was in the right place for me. I just had this feeling that good things were going to happen.
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