The American Lung Association indicates that roughly 541,000 individuals in the U.S. are currently diagnosed with lung cancer, which represents approximately 13% of all cancer diagnoses. Treatment for lung cancer depends on these main factors:

• Cancer type (i.e., small-cell and non-small-cell lung cancer)
• Cancer location
• Lung function
• Stage of cancer
• Patient’s general health and age
• Expected side effects of the elected treatment
• Patient goals and preferences

There are two major approaches to lung cancer treatment: local treatment and systemic treatment.

1. Local treatments

Local treatments treat cancer at its source and include such procedures as surgery and radiation therapy. It may suffice to use local treatments to address early-stage lung cancers.

2. Systematic treatments

Systematic treatments include chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapies. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, like lymph nodes, the better option is to attempt systemic treatments protocols.

The stage of a cancer is a major factor in the course of treatment recommended. A small-cell cancer is classified as limited stage (or extensive stage), depending on whether it is localized to one lung or has spread to both lungs and other parts of the body. Non-small-cell cancers are classified into six major stages, from occult stage to stage IV, including a stage 0, and each stage is characterized by how much and where the cancer has spread in the body. An occult-stage non-small-cell lung cancer will only be detected by cancerous cells in sputum, but no tumor can be detected.

The major lung cancer treatment protocols for lung cancer include:

• Surgery, which involves removing a portion of the lung or a whole lung.

• Radiation Therapy, which uses focused, high-energy X-rays to destroy the tumor, and may be used in conjunction with surgery, to either reduce the size of the tumor or remove any cancer cells remaining post-surgery.

• Chemotherapy, which uses anti-cancer drugs. These drugs can be administered either by capsules or through a drip directly into the vein.

• Immunotherapy, which aims to enhance the body’s immune system to help with fighting cancer cells.

• Targeted Therapy, which involves using drugs to attack specific tissue environment, genes or proteins that help with cancer cells’ growth and spread.

• Radiofrequency ablation, a medical procedure that employs a electrical conduction system to ablate dysfunctional tissue.