There are two main types of lung cancer—Non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for 80-85% of all lung cancer cases and includes subtypes like squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The primary symptoms of non-small cell lung cancer are shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss, and coughing up blood. Read on to know more about the treatment options for this type of lung cancer.

What factors do doctors consider while recommending treatment for non-small cell lung cancer?
The treatment recommended for non-small cell lung cancer usually depends upon various factors like:

• The type of lung cancer
• The stage of lung cancer
• The presence of tumors in the lung
• Changes in the genetic structure of non-small cell lung cancer cells
• The overall health of the patient
• Age of the patient

What are the treatment options available for non-small cell lung cancer?
Usually, people diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer have to undergo more than one type of treatment. The various types of treatment options available for non-small cell lung cancer are:

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT)
In EBRT, high energy rays are used to kill cancer cells. The treatment is similar to getting an X-ray, but the dosage of radiation is much higher. The treatment itself lasts for a few minutes, but the set-up time takes much longer.

Internal radiation therapy
Also called brachytherapy, it is primarily used to shrink tumors in the lungs and provide relief from the symptoms of lung cancer. Here, a small source of radioactive material (often in the form of radioactive pellets) is placed directly in or around the tumor.

Chemotherapy
Medications are given to hinder the growth of cancer cells or kill them. Any cell that grows quickly is targeted with the help of chemotherapy. Usually, it is used in combination with other forms of treatment.

Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy involves the use of medication to help the immune system identify cancerous cells and attack them.

Surgery
The best way to treat non-small cell lung cancer is through surgery. Surgery can work if the patient only has a small tumor in the lungs. The size of the tumor is the basic factor considered before undergoing surgery. The surgeon might have to remove the tumor, or sometimes, the entire lung, or a part of it. Sometimes, the surgeon may have to remove the lymph nodes if lung cancer has spread to them.

Targeted therapy
In this method, patients are given special medications that target proteins and changes in gene structure to stop the cancer cells from growing.

Clinical trials
If all treatments for non-small cell lung cancer fail, the oncologist may recommend clinical trials. It is essential to have a proper consultation with the doctor to understand the specifications of the clinical trials and their effectiveness.

The treatment of non-small cell lung cancer varies from stage to stage. For first-stage cancer, radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery will work only if cancer hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes. For second-stage cancer, surgery might be the only treatment needed, followed by chemotherapy. For third-stage cancer, surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy may be recommended.