What Lung Cancer Treatment is Right For You?

By Lynne Eldridge MD, About.com Guide to Lung Cancer

Finding the right treatment can take time. Options can include chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery, depending upon the type and stage of your lung cancer. Some individuals may choose to participate in clinical trials meant to evaluate new treatments, or try complementary/alternative therapies. Regardless of the route taken, treatment choice is a decision to be made by both you and your doctor.

1. Chemotherapy
2. Radiation Therapy
3. Surgery

4. Clinical Trials
5. Complementary/Alternative Medicine
6. Chemotherapy Side Effects

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is often used for lung cancer, alone or combined with surgery and/or radiation therapy.

• Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer
• Side Effects of Chemotherapy
• What is Palliative Chemotherapy?
• Targeted Therapies for Lung Cancer

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy can be used for lung cancer treatment alone, or combined with surgery or chemotherapy.

• Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer
• Side Effects of Radiation Therapy
• Managing Common Radiation Therapy Side Effects

Surgery

Surgery can offer a chance for a cure when lung cancer is diagnosed in the earlier stages. Several different methods of surgery are available depending on the size of your tumor and where it is located.

• Surgery for Lung Cancer
• What Types of Surgery are Done for Lung Cancer?
• Inoperable Lung Cancer - What Does Inoperable Mean?
• How to Prepare for Lung Cancer Surgery

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials can give you the chance to use treatments that are not yet widely available, and also to participate in research that may help others. But, they're not right for everyone.

• What Are Clinical Trials?
• Should I Participate in a Clinical Trial?
• Types and Phases of Clinical Trials
• How Can I Find Clinical Trials For Lung Cancer?

Complementary/Alternative Medicine

Recognizing the inability of traditional Western medicine to cure or control symptoms of lung cancer too often, more people are turning to complementary/alternative medicine as an option.

• What Alternative Lung Cancer Treatments Work?
• Step by Step Visualization

Chemotherapy Side Effects

How can you manage and cope with these common side effects of chemotherapy?

• Hair Loss
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Loss of Appetite
• Bone Marrow Suppression
• Taste Changes
• Mouth Sores
• Neutropenia (Low White Blood Cell Count)

• Anemia (Low Red Blood Cell Count)
• Thrombocytopenia (Low Platelets)
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Chemobrain
• Skin Changes
• Fingernail Changes