Lung cancer treatment depends on the type (non-small cell or small cell), the stage of the disease, the patient’s overall health, and other individual factors. For early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), surgery to remove the tumor (lobectomy or pneumonectomy) is often the first choice, possibly followed by adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy to eliminate residual cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be used alone or with chemotherapy in patients who are not surgical candidates. In more advanced stages, systemic therapies like chemotherapy, targeted therapy (e.g., EGFR, ALK, or ROS1 inhibitors), and immunotherapy (such as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors like pembrolizumab) play a central role. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which is more aggressive, typically requires a combination of chemotherapy and radiation, and in limited cases, prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) to prevent brain metastases. Palliative care is also important to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life, especially in advanced or metastatic disease. Advances in precision medicine and molecular testing have significantly improved outcomes by allowing for personalized treatment plans.
