Non-small cell lung cancer

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 85% of all lung cancer cases. NSCLC can be treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy, depending on the stage of the cancer and the patient’s overall health.

Surgery: For early-stage NSCLC, surgery is often the primary treatment. This may involve removing a small portion of the lung (lobectomy), an entire lobe (segmentectomy), or the entire lung (pneumonectomy) depending on the cancer’s location and extent.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to destroy cancer cells. It can be administered before surgery (neoadjuvant) to reduce the size of the tumor, after surgery (adjuvant) to reduce the risk of recurrence, or as the primary treatment for advanced-stage cancer. Common chemotherapy drugs used for NSCLC include cisplatin, carboplatin, gemcitabine, paclitaxel, docetaxel, and vinorelbine.
Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It can be delivered externally (external beam radiation therapy) or internally (brachytherapy) depending on the cancer’s location and stage. Radiation therapy can be used as the primary treatment for early-stage NSCLC, or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy for more advanced cases.
Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapies are drugs that interfere with specific proteins or processes within cancer cells, allowing healthy cells to remain unharmed. Common targeted therapies for NSCLC include erlotinib, gefitinib, and afatinib, which target epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and cetuximab, which targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).

The choice of treatment depends on several factors, including the patient’s overall health, the stage of the cancer, and the specific genetic makeup of the tumor. Consult with a healthcare professional to determine the best treatment plan for each individual case.