Lung Cancer

Surgery

Lobectomy to remove the entire lobe of one lung

Pneumonectomy to remove an entire lung

If you undergo surgery, your surgeon may also remove lymph nodes from your chest in order to check them for signs of cancer.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. One or more chemotherapy drugs may be given through a vein in your arm (intravenously) or taken orally. A combination of drugs usually is given in a series of treatments over a period of weeks or months, with breaks in between so that you can recover.

Chemotherapy is often used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that may remain. It may also be used before surgery to shrink cancers and make them easier to remove. In some cases, chemotherapy can be used to relieve pain and other symptoms of advanced cancer.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy beams, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy can be directed at your lung cancer from outside your body (external beam radiation) or it can be put inside needles, seeds or catheters and placed inside your body near the cancer (brachytherapy).

Radiation therapy can be used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that may remain. It may also be used as the first treatment for lung cancers that can't be removed during surgery. For people with advanced lung cancer, radiation therapy may be used to relieve pain and other symptoms.

Targeted drug therapy

Bevacizumab (Avastin). Bevacizumab stops a tumor from creating a new blood supply. Blood vessels that connect to tumors can supply oxygen and nutrients to the tumor, allowing it to grow.

Bevacizumab is usually used in combination with chemotherapy and is approved for advanced and recurrent non-small cell lung cancer. Bevacizumab carries a risk of bleeding, blood clots and high blood pressure.

Erlotinib (Tarceva). Erlotinib blocks chemicals that signal the cancer cells to grow and divide.

Crizotinib (Xalkori). Crizotinib blocks chemicals that allow cancer cells to grow out of control and live longer than normal cells.

Clinical trials

Clinical trials are studies of experimental lung cancer treatments. You may be interested in enrolling in a clinical trial if lung cancer treatments aren't working or if your treatment options are limited.

The treatments studied in a clinical trial may be the latest innovations, but they don't guarantee a cure. Carefully weigh your treatment options with your doctor.

Your participation in a clinical trial may help doctors better understand how to treat lung cancer in the future.

Palliative care

People with lung cancer often experience signs and symptoms of the cancer, as well as side effects of treatment. Supportive care, also known as palliative care, is a specialty area of medicine that involves working with a doctor to minimize your signs and symptoms.

You may be concerned that receiving palliative care means you can't undergo aggressive treatment for your cancer. But rather than replace curative treatments, palliative care complements your cancer treatment and may make it more likely that you can complete your treatments.

Don't smoke.

Stop smoking.

Avoid secondhand smoke.

Test your home for radon.

Avoid carcinogens at work.

Eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables.

Exercise most days of the week.

biopsy

bronchoscopy

Sputum cytology

Xray

Coughing, especially if it persists or becomes intense

Pain in the chest, shoulder, or back unrelated to pain from coughing

A change in color or volume of sputum

Shortness of breath

Changes in the voice or being hoarse

Harsh sounds with each breath (stridor)

Recurrent lung problems, such as bronchitis or pneumonia

Coughing up phlegm or mucus, especially if it is tinged with blood

Coughing up blood

Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs. These abnormal cells do not carry out the functions of normal lung cells and do not develop into healthy lung tissue. As they grow, the abnormal cells can form tumors and interfere with the functioning of the lung, which provides oxygen to the body via the blood.

Impaired Gas Exchange

Removal of lung tissue

Decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of blood (blood loss)

Altered oxygen supply (hypoventilation)

Ineffective Airway Clearance

Increased amount/viscosity of secretions

Fatigue/weakness

Restricted chest movement/pain

Acute Pain

Presence of chest tube(s)

Cancer invasion of pleura, chest wall

Surgical incision, tissue trauma, and disruption of intercostal nerves

Fear/Anxiety

Situational crises

Perceived threat of death

Threat to/change in health status

Deficient Knowledge

Lack of exposure, unfamiliarity with information/resources

Information misinterpretation

Lack of recall

Self Care deficit

Decreased strength / endurance

presence of therapeutic devices

presence of pain

intolerance to activity

depression