Occult Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of occult nonsmall cell lung cancer depends on where the cancer has spread. It can usually be cured by surgery.

Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ)

Treatment of stage 0 may include the following:

• Surgery (wedge resection or segmental resection).
• Photodynamic therapy using an endoscope.

Stage I Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer may include the following:

• Surgery (wedge resection, segmental resection, or lobectomy).
• External radiation therapy (for patients who cannot have surgery or choose not to have surgery).
• Surgery followed by chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of photodynamic therapy using an endoscope.
• A clinical trial of surgery followed by chemoprevention.

Stage II Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of stage II nonsmall cell lung cancer may include the following:

• Surgery (wedge resection, segmental resection, lobectomy, or pneumonectomy).
• External radiation therapy (for patients who cannot have surgery or choose not to have surgery).
• Surgery followed by chemotherapy, with or without other treatments.
• A clinical trial of external radiation therapy following surgery.

Stage IIIA and Stage IIIB Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of stage IIIA nonsmall cell lung cancer may include the following:

• Surgery with or without radiation therapy.
• External radiation therapy alone.
• Chemotherapy combined with other treatments.
• A clinical trial of new ways of giving radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of new combinations of treatments.

Treatment of stage IIIB nonsmall cell lung cancer may include the following:

• External radiation therapy alone.
• Chemotherapy combined with external radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy combined with external radiation therapy, followed by surgery.
• Chemotherapy alone.
• A clinical trial of new ways of giving radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of new combinations of treatments.

Stage IV Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of stage IV nonsmall cell lung cancer may include the following:

• Watchful waiting.
• External radiation therapy as palliative therapy, to relieve pain and other symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• Chemotherapy.
• Laser therapy and/or internal radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy with or without biologic therapy.

Educational information provided by The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Internet site.