Treatment for Recurrent Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women yet remains the most common cause of cancer deaths. People with similar cancers may require or choose different types or combination of treatments, and some treatment options may be appropriate at one time but not another.

Radiation

• Radiation therapy uses high energy beams to kill cancer cells. Radiation beams are aimed at the site of the lung cancer. This therapy is targeted to the cancer site in order to avoid damaging normal tissue or cells.

Chemotherapy

• Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is not as targeted as other therapies. These drugs can kill normal cells as well as cancer cells. Recurrent lung cancer may be treated with more than one chemotherapy drug at a time.

Chemo and Radiation

• This treatment plan may include a combination of chemotherapy drugs and radiation. Chemotherapy can help radiation treatments work better. The chemotherapy drugs weaken the cancer cells and allow the targeted radiation beam to be more effective.

Targeted Therapy

• Targeted therapy drugs target certain parts of the cancer cells. These drugs disrupt the cells' growth process causing the cell to die. These drugs are less likely to harm normal cells than radiation or chemotherapy.

Clinical Trials

• Clinical trials are used to test new drugs and new combinations of therapies. Participation is voluntary but make sure to consult your doctor.