The lung cancer treatment depends on the number of factors like, the type of lung cancer, the location of lung cancer, the patient.s general health and the stage of cancer. To treat lung cancer surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are used. The treatments for different types of lung cancers are different.

1. Small cell lung cancer: This type of cancer is mostly treated by chemotherapy. As there is a high chance of this type of cancer spreading, surgery is not normally given as surgery might remove the cancer locally but not the cancer cells. If there is any possibility of the operation then chemotherapy or radiotherapy might be given after the surgery so that the risk of cancer coming back is reduced. This kind of treatment is called as adjuvant treatment. The lung cancer treatment with chemotherapy at this stage also helps in controlling the symptoms. Sometimes chemotherapy is given simultaneously with radiotherapy, it.s called as chemoradiation. Most of the times, radiotherapy is also given to the head so that the cancer doesn.t spread up to the brain. Radiotherapy might also be given to reduce certain symptoms such as pain.

2. Non small cell lung cancer: People suffering from this type of cancer are diagnosed with different lung cancer treatments depending upon the stage of the cancer.

Stage 1: Most often surgery is done to remove the non small cell lung cancer. Patients having other medical problems or not fit for surgery, then radiotherapy might be given to remove the lung tumor. Sometimes to avoid the risk of cancer coming back, chemotherapy is used after surgery which is known as adjuvant chemotherapy. Chemotherapy might also be given before surgery or radiotherapy which is known as neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.

Stage 2: Surgery might work as an option to remove the non small cell lung cancer. Radiotherapy is used for people who are not fit to undergo surgery or do not want to go for surgery. Chemotherapy is given after surgery or radiotherapy so that there is less chance of cancer returning.

Stage 3: Non small cell lung cancers could although be removed by surgery but this might not be possible always if the cancer has spread very far. Chemotherapy is normally given or may be given in combination with radiation therapy before the operation which is called as neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.

Stage 4: When the cancer spreads to other parts of the body or has affected more than one lobe of the lung, then radiotherapy is given to reduce the symptoms as well as shrink the tumor. Chemotherapy before or after the surgery is also normally given to some patients to shrink the cancer. Radiotherapy is normally effective in reducing the symptom of pain. There are other lung cancer treatments to relieve a blockage and reduce symptoms if there is a tumor in one of the main airways i.e. left or right bronchus. The treatments are given by radiotherapy, laser treatment, freezing the tumor or cryotherapy, use of a rigid tube or stent to keep the airway open and light therapy.

There are treatments meant for advanced lung cancer too. They are as follows:

1. Treating breathlessness due to blocked airway: There are several lung cancer treatment options if the cancer is blocking the passage of airway. The different therapies given to destroy the cancer are internal radiotherapy, laser therapy, electrocautery, photo dynamic therapy or light treatment or cryotherapy.

2. Treating fluid on the lung: There might be a collection of fluid between the sheets of tissue covering the lung (pleura) called as pleural effusion. The pleural effusion can make a patient breathless as the affected lung does not have enough space to expand. Hence it is necessary to drain off the fluid by a method called thoracentesis. Firstly, an anesthetic injection is given locally in one side of the patient.s back from where the drain will go inside. Then a small cut is made and a large needle called .cannula. is put. This needle is attached to a tube with a drainage bottle on the end. The fluid then drains off slowly. a stitch is put on to hold the cannula in place.

If the fluid comes back again, it cannot be drained always as it may cause an infection. Hence the collection of the fluid is stopped by the method called as .pleurodesis.. The two pleura are made to stick together so that there is no space for the fluid to collect.

3. Treating superior vena cava obstruction: This is also an advanced lung cancer symptom. Vena cava is a large vein which carries blood from the brain, head and arms back to the heart. The cancer might block this vein which might cause a built up behind the blockage and the fluid might seep out from the blood stream and collect in the tissues of the face. This may lead to the swelling of the face. The treatment of lung cancer includes steroids to reduce the swelling of the face, and chemotherapy.