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In Treatment for Lung Cancer
How will I know which treatment is right for me?
Your treatment will depend on many factors, such as the type of lung cancer and the stage of the tumor. Your healthcare team may want you to have more than one treatment at a time. Treatment options may include:
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Surgery
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Radiation therapy, which uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells in one part of the body
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Chemotherapy, a type of medicine that kills cancer cells throughout the body
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Medicine that may block the growth of cancer cells
Talk with your healthcare team about your treatment options. Together you can make the choice that is best for you.
Each treatment option works in a different way and may have side effects. Work with your healthcare team to make a treatment plan that is right for you.
To the right are examples of organizations and resources you may find helpful. Click on the links to visit those websites and learn more.
Web pages that may help you learn more about this topic:
Mobile apps that may help you learn more about this topic:
How will I know which treatment is right for me?
Your treatment will depend on many factors, such as the type of lung cancer and the stage of the tumor. Your healthcare team may want you to have more than one treatment at a time. Treatment options may include:
-
Surgery
-
Radiation therapy, which uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells in one part of the body
-
Chemotherapy, a type of medicine that kills cancer cells throughout the body
-
Medicine that may block the growth of cancer cells
Talk with your healthcare team about your treatment options. Together you can make the choice that is best for you.
Each treatment option works in a different way and may have side effects. Work with your healthcare team to make a treatment plan that is right for you.
To the right are examples of organizations and resources you may find helpful. Click on the links to visit those websites and learn more.
Web pages that may help you learn more about this topic:
Mobile apps that may help you learn more about this topic:
How can complementary medicine or therapies help me?
During treatment, you may hear people mention complementary medicine. These are therapies, such as meditation, acupuncture, and herbs, that are used along with your prescribed treatment. They may help to reduce stress, lessen pain, or reduce nausea. It is important to talk with your healthcare team before starting complementary medicines or therapies. Some people also find support groups or talking with a counselor to be helpful.
To the right are examples of organizations and resources you may find helpful. Click on the links to visit those websites and learn more.
Web pages that may help you learn more about this topic:
What is a clinical trial - and how can I know if it is right for me?
Clinical trials are used to find out more about potential treatments, such as the potential benefits and risks and for which types of people they may work best. The results of trials have helped doctors learn how to prevent, detect, and treat cancer. Clinical trials are usually made up of 2 groups of volunteers - one group will get the treatment being studied, and the other group will get the same treatment they may already be receiving from their doctors.
There are 3 phases of clinical trials:
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Phase I trials test how safe a dose is, how a treatment should be given, and how a treatment affects the body
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Phase II trials test to see if the treatment being studied has an effect on a specific disease and how it affects the body
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Phase III compares the treatment being studied with the treatment usually used to treat that type of cancer (standard of care treatment)
Talk with your healthcare provider to learn more about clinical trials and to see if one may be right for you. Go to ClinicalTrials.gov to find out more about clinical trials.
To the right are examples of organizations and resources you may find helpful. Click on the links to visit those websites and learn more.
Web pages that may help you learn more about this topic:
Mobile apps that may help you learn more about this topic:
How will I know if my treatment is working?
Your healthcare team may use different tests to tell if treatment may be working. These tests can also help the team keep track of your overall health during and after treatment. Some of these tests may be the same as those you had to find the cancer, such as:
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Physical exam
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Blood tests
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Chest x-ray
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CT scan
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Bronchoscopy
Be sure to work with your healthcare team to understand your treatment and the tests you will need to help them know how you are doing.
To the right are examples of organizations and resources you may find helpful. Click on the links to visit those websites and learn more.
Web pages that may help you learn more about this topic:
Mobile apps that may help you learn more about this topic:
