3. Treatment
To ensure you receive the best care, your specialist will arrange for a team of health professionals to review your test results and plan your treatment based on your preferences and needs.
The team will be made up of health professionals who have experience managing and supporting a person with lung cancer. Your specialist will tell you when the team will be discussing your case.
Your team should discuss the different treatment options with you including the likely outcomes, expected timeframes, possible side effects, and the risks and benefits. Your doctor may also suggest you consider taking part in a clinical trial. You might want to ask for more time before deciding on your treatment, or ask for a second opinion.
Let your team know about any complementary therapies you are using or thinking about trying. Some therapies may not be appropriate, depending on your medical treatment.
In some cases, more than one type of treatment will be used to get the best outcome.
Treatment options:
Surgery
Surgery is the most common treatment for patients with early lung cancer. It is important that this surgery is performed by a surgeon who is very experienced in performing lung surgery and performs several operations every year.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) may benefit patients if surgery is not suitable, or may be combined with chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy or drug therapy
Chemotherapy or drug therapy may be given before or after surgery, or if surgery is not suitable, with or without radiation.
Palliative treatment
Palliative treatment will be used at different stages to relieve various symptoms and help to improve your quality of life.
The treatment options depend on whether the cancer has spread to both sides of your chest or beyond your lungs.
Lung cancer is often not found until it is advanced because it can grow rapidly and symptoms can be vague.
For more information about treatment and treatment side effects ask your doctor or visit www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/treatment
Your doctor should discuss your needs with you during and after treatment (including physical, psychological, social and information needs) and may refer you to another service or health professional for different aspects of your care.