What Are the Benefits of Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer?

Chemotherapy is a common treatment for lung cancer. One or more drugs are given either orally or intravenously. These drugs kill cancer cells and keep them from dividing and reproducing. The benefits chemotherapy provides will depend on the stage of the patient's lung cancer.

Chemotherapy Before Lung Cancer Surgery

• If your lung cancer is caught early, you will most likely have surgery. If your tumor is larger, you might receive chemotherapy to shrink it; this will contribute to a better surgical outcome.

Chemotherapy after Lung Cancer Surgery

• Doctors might recommend a course of chemotherapy after surgically removing your lung tumor. According to Yale New Haven Hospital, studies indicate patients who receive chemotherapy after lung cancer surgery had better survival rates and longer periods of being cancer-free compared to those who did not.

Advanced Cancer

• In cases of stage 4 lung cancer, chemotherapy is the first line of treatment. At this point, you cannot cure your cancer, but chemotherapy treatments can modestly prolong survival and reduce the severity of symptoms like pain and shortness of breath.

Beneficial Chemotherapy Drugs for Lung Cancer

• The following drugs have shown the most benefit for treating lung cancer; you might receive one or a combination of these drugs. They include ifosfamide, mitomycin, vinorelbine, cisplatin, gemcitabine, paclitaxel, docetaxel, doxorubicin, etoposide, pemetrexed and toptecan.

Considerations

• Be cautious about taking antioxidants and other natural supplements while undergoing chemotherapy. While some supplements have been observed to increase the efficacy of certain chemotherapy drugs, some have been shown to decrease their effectiveness. Do not use supplements without talking to your doctor first; work with an oncologist knowledgeable about natural cancer treatments if you want to incorporate these therapies.