Lung cancer treatment

Treatment for lung cancer will depend on the type of lung cancer you have, the stage of the cancer, how well you can breathe (your lung function) and your general health. All treatments chosen for you will be expected to be safe and effective.

Understanding the aim of treatment

For early or locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (stages 1–3 NSCLC) or limited-stage small cell lung cancer (stages 1–3 SCLC), treatment may be given with the aim of making the cancer go away. This is called curative treatment.

Because lung cancer causes vague symptoms or even no symptoms in the early stages, most people are diagnosed when the cancer is advanced (stage 4 NSCLC, stage 4 SCLC or extensive disease). This means the cancer has spread outside the lung to other parts of the body.

When cancer is advanced, the aim of treatment is often to maintain quality of life by controlling the cancer, slowing down its spread and managing any symptoms. This is called palliative treatment.

Sometimes palliative treatment can significantly shrink or control the cancer, helping people to live as fully and as comfortably as possible for many months or years.

NSCLC and SCLC are treated in different ways. Treatments to improve breathing are covered in Managing symptoms.

Treatment options by type of lung cancer and stage

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Early (stage 1 or 2)

Usually treated with surgery, and for stage 1, a type of high-dose targeted radiation therapy called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Stage 2 is sometimes treated with chemotherapy or immunotherapy before or after the surgery.

Locally advanced (stage 3)

Can be treated with surgery and chemotherapy, or with radiation therapy and chemotherapy (without surgery). Immunotherapy may also be used. With some gene mutations, targeted therapy is starting to be used. Treatment will depend on where the cancer is in the lung, the number and location of lymph nodes with cancer and whether a surgeon can safely remove all of the visible cancer.

Advanced (stage 4)

Depending on the symptoms, palliative drug treatment (targeted therapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy), palliative radiation therapy, SBRT, or a combination of treatments may be used. This depends on the cancer cell type, how much the cancer has spread, the symptoms and the molecular test results.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

Limited disease (stages 1–3)

Usually treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy (called chemoradiation). Sometimes, surgery may be used for stage 1 disease.

Extensive disease (stage 4)

Mainly treated with palliative chemotherapy, with or without immunotherapy. Palliative radiation therapy may also be given to the primary cancer in the lung and to other parts of the body where the cancer has spread to help control symptoms such as pain.

Learn more about these treatments for lung cancer