Macmillan Cancer Support Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the UK, with more than 38,000 people diagnosed each year. Smoking is the cause of most cases. There are two main types of primary lung cancer, small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. About 1 in 5 lung cancers are small cell; the rest are non-small cell. The two main types are treated quite differently. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are usually used for small cell lung cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy can all be used for non-small cell lung cancer. Symptoms
a continuing cough, or change in a long-standing cough a chest infection that doesn't get better increasing breathlessness and wheezing coughing up blood-stained phlegm (sputum) a hoarse voice a dull ache, or a sharp pain, when you cough or take a deep breath loss of appetite and weight loss difficulty swallowing excessive tiredness (fatigue) and lethargy.
Treatment Overview Non-small cell lung cancer can often be removed with surgery. If people have other medical problems, or aren't fit enough to have surgery, radiotherapy may be given instead. Chemotherapy is sometimes used after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. It's also sometimes given before surgery and/or radiotherapy. This is called neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Occasionally radiofrequency ablation (RFA) may be used. This is only likely to be suggested if other treatments aren't suitable for you. RFA is only available at some cancer centres so you may have to travel for treatment. Chemotherapy is the main treatment for people with small cell lung cancer.
Radiotherapy may sometimes be given after the chemotherapy has finished. Sometimes chemotherapy and radiotherapy are given at the same time; this is known as chemo radiation. Surgery is usually only used to treat people with small cell lung cancer if the cancer is found very early. This is because the cancer has usually spread to other parts of the body before being diagnosed, even if it can’t be seen on a scan. If an operation is possible, chemotherapy may be given after surgery to help reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. Giving treatment in this way is called adjuvant treatment.