How To Find Out Lung Cancer

Photo of a man in a hospital talking to his doctor

People with non-small cell lung cancer tin can be treated with surgery.

Types of Lung Cancer

The ii master types of lung cancer are small cell lung cancer and non-pocket-sized cell lung cancer. These categories refer to what the cancer cells look like nether a microscope. Non-modest cell lung cancer is more common than pocket-size jail cell lung cancer.

If you lot have lung cancer (specially not-modest cell lung cancer), your dr. may run testsexternal icon to detect out if you have a change in your genes (genetic mutation). The results of these tests help your doctor know which treatments will piece of work best for you.

Staging

If lung cancer is diagnosed, other tests are done to find out how far information technology has spread through the lungs, lymph nodes, and the residue of the body. This procedure is called staging. The type and stage of lung cancer tells doctors what kind of handling you need. For more information, visit Stages of Not-Pocket-sized Cell Lung Cancerexternal icon and Stages of Small Cell Lung Cancer.external icon

Types of Treatment

Lung cancer is treated in several ways, depending on the type of lung cancer and how far it has spread. People with non-small cell lung cancer tin be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these treatments. People with small cell lung cancer are commonly treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Surgery. An operation where doctors cutting out cancer tissue.
Chemotherapy. Using special medicines to shrink or kill the cancer. The drugs can be pills yous take or medicines given in your veins, or sometimes both.
Radiations therapy. Using loftier-energy rays (similar to Ten-rays) to kill the cancer.
Targeted therapy. Using drugs to block the growth and spread of cancer cells. The drugs tin can be pills y'all take or medicines given in your veins. Yous will get tests to see if targeted therapy is correct for your cancer type earlier this handling is used.

Doctors from different specialties frequently work together to treat lung cancer. Pulmonologists are doctors who are experts in diseases of the lungs. Surgeons are doctors who perform operations. Thoracic surgeons specialize in breast, centre, and lung surgery. Medical oncologists are doctors who treat cancer with medicines. Radiation oncologists are doctors who care for cancers with radiation.

For more data, visit the National Cancer Institute's Lung Cancerexternal icon page. This site can likewise assist yous discover a doctor or treatment facilityexternal icon that works in cancer care.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trialsexternal icon use new treatment options to meet if they are prophylactic and constructive. For more than information, visit the National Cancer Constitute'due south Clinical Trials folio.external icon If you take cancer, you may want to take part. Visit the sites listed beneath to observe a clinical trial.

Search for Clinical Trialsexternal icon (National Cancer Institute)
ClinicalTrials.govexternal icon (National Institutes of Health)

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Complementary and alternative medicine are medicines and health practices that are not standard treatments doctors usually use to treat cancer.

Complementary medicine is used in addition to standard treatments. Examples include acupuncture, dietary supplements, massage therapy, hypnosis, and meditation.
Alternative medicine is used instead of standard treatments. Examples include special diets, megadose vitamins, herbal preparations, special teas, and magnet therapy.

Many kinds of complementary and culling medicine have not been tested scientifically and may not be condom. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits before you start any kind of complementary or alternative medicine.

Which Handling Is Correct for Me?

Choosing the treatment that is right for you may exist hard. Talk to your cancer doctor nearly the treatment options available for your type and stage of cancer. Your doctor can explain the risks and benefits of each handling and their side furnishings. Side effects are how your trunk reacts to drugs or other treatments.

Sometimes people get an opinion from more 1 cancer doctor. This is called a "second stance." Getting a 2d opinionexternal icon may aid y'all cull the handling that is right for you.