This action helps shrink tumors or eliminate them completely.
Chemotherapy for lung cancer is typically givenintravenously(into a vein) over several hours.
The IV infusions are delivered in cycles lasting three to four weeks.
Kevin Laubacher / The Image Bank / Getty Images
The aim of chemo can differ depending on thelung cancer typeandstage.
Each is treated differently with chemotherapy.
It differs from NSCLC in that it has usually metastasized by the time it is diagnosed.
Because of this, SCLC only has two stages:limited-stage SCLCandextensive-stage SCLC.
Theside effects of chemotherapyare primarily sparked by damage sustained by these normal cells.
Different people respond to chemotherapy differently, with some experiencing minimal side effects and others developing intolerant side effects.
This means that roughly three of every 10 people with lung will live forat leastfive years following their diagnosis.
The rate can be far better or worse depending on how early or advanced the cancer is.
Remission is also possible with early-stage cancer.
American Lung Association.Chemotherapy for lung cancer.
MD Anderson Cancer Center.Should you get a central line for chemotherapy?
American Cancer Society.Treatment choices for non-small cell lung cancer, by stage.
American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ)patient version.
American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer.
American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy side effects.
MD Anderson Cancer Center.12 chemotherapy tips from cancer patients who’ve been there.
West HJ, Jin JO.Performance status in patients with cancer.JAMA Oncol.
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