How is non-small cell lung cancer treated according to staging?

There are several types of treatment for early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Each person with lung cancer has different factors that need to be considered for a treatment plan, so what may be the best for one person may not be best for someone else. You and your healthcare team should discuss which choice is best for you based on the type and stage of lung cancer you have, symptoms, your preferences and any other health problems you may have.

The stage and location of your cancer helps determine the best treatment option (Tables 1 and 2).

Advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Advanced-stage lung cancer is defined as Stage IIIB to Stage IVB. If the cancer is at an advanced stage, it is usually not possible to remove all the cancer with surgery and the goal of treatment is to control your cancer, minimize symptoms, and extend and improve quality of life. This is usually done with a combination of therapies given separately or in combination for example, radiation therapy (RT) or systemic therapy. A number of systemic therapies are used to treat advanced lung cancer, including:

* Chemotherapy – drugs that kill fast growing cells, including cancer cells,
* Immunotherapy – drugs that use your own immune system to kill cancer,
* Targeted therapy – drugs that target changes that are specific to your cancer cells, and
* Antibody-drug conjugates – drugs that combine the power of chemotherapy and targeted therapy.

The exact stage and location(s) of your cancer helps determine the best treatment option (Table 2).