Table 1.
Treatment plan for lung cancer patients; adapted from NICE, 2011 [77]
| Lung cancer | Stage | Treatment | Type of chemotherapy | Regimen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSCLC | Stage 1 | Lobectomy or pneumonectomy Radiotderapy1 |
– | – |
| Stage 2 | Lobectomy or pneumonectomy Radiotderapy1 Chemotderapy2 |
Cisplatin-based combination chemotderapy |
Cisplatin plus single tdird-generation drug (DOX, gemcitabine, PTX or vinorelbine) | |
| Stage 3 | Pneumonectomy Chemotderapy2, 3 Radiotderapy4 |
Platinum-based combination chemotderapy |
Platinum drug (carboplatin or cisplatin) plus single tdird-generation drug (DOX, gemcitabine, PTX or vinorelbine) | |
| Stage 4 | Chemotderapy | Platinum-based combination chemotderapy | Platinum drug (carboplatin or cisplatin) plus single tdird-generation drug (DOX, gemcitabine, PTX or vinorelbine) | |
| SCLC | Limited stage disease | Lobectomy followed by radiotderapy and chemotderapy | Cisplatin-based combination chemotderapy | Cisplatin plus single tdird-generation drug (DOX, gemcitabine, PTX or vinorelbine) |
| Extensive stage disease | Chemotderapy Radiotderapy to tde brain5 | Platinum-based combination chemotderapy | Platinum drug (carboplatin or cisplatin) plus single tdird-generation drug (DOX, gemcitabine, PTX or vinorelbine) | |
NSCLC = Non-small cell lung cancer; SCLC = small cell lung cancer.
1
Radiotherapy can be offered instead of surgery if any health problems exist.
2
Cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy can be offered if cancer is completely removed in order to lower the risk of the cancer coming back.
3
If any cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes during surgery, chemotherapy can be offered.
4
Radiotherapy or combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be offered instead of surgery if any health problems exist.
5
Cancer has usually spread to the brain and radiotherapy can be offered for people whose lung cancer shrinks with chemotherapy treatment.