Treatment of occult non-small cell lung cancer depends on where the cancer has spread. It can usually be cured by surgery.
Stage 0
Treatment of stage 0 may include the following:
- Surgery (wedge resection or segmental resection).
- Photodynamic therapy using an endoscope.
- Electrocautery, cryosurgery, or laser surgery using an endoscope.
Stage I
Treatment of stage I non-small cell lung cancer may include the following:
- Surgery (wedge resection, segmental resection, sleeve resection, or lobectomy).
- External radiation therapy (for patients who cannot have surgery or choose not to have surgery).
- A clinical trial of surgery followed by chemoprevention.
Stage II
Treatment of stage II non-small cell lung cancer may include the following:
- Surgery (wedge resection, segmental resection, sleeve resection, lobectomy, or pneumonectomy).
- External radiation therapy (for patients who cannot have surgery or choose not to have surgery).
- Surgery followed by chemotherapy.
Stage III
Treatment of stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer that can be removed with surgery may include surgery followed by chemotherapy.
Treatment of stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer that cannot be removed with surgery may include the following:
- Chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy.
- External radiation therapy alone (for patients who cannot be treated with combined therapy).
Some stage IIIA non-small cell lung tumors that have grown into the chest wall may be completely removed. Treatment of chest wall tumors may include the following:
- Surgery.
- Surgery and radiation therapy.
- Radiation therapy alone.
- Chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy and/or surgery.
Treatment of stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer may include the following:
- Chemotherapy combined with external radiation therapy.
- External radiation therapy as palliative therapy, to relieve pain and other symptoms and improve the quality of life.
Stage IV
Treatment of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer may include the following:
- External radiation therapy as palliative therapy, to relieve pain and other symptoms and improve the quality of life.
- Combination chemotherapy.
- Combination chemotherapy and targeted therapy.
- Laser therapy and/or internal radiation therapy using an endoscope.
