There are two main types of lung cancer and treatment will depend on which type an individual has and how severe the disease is. Small cell lung cancer is staged in a two tier system, limited stage SCLC means that the disease is located in one area in the body. Extensive stage SCLC means that the cancer has spread to other tissues or organs within the body. Non-small cell lung cancer has 4 stages, stage 1 the cancer is confined to the lungs. In stages 2 and 3 the cancer is confined to the chest, with larger more invasive tumours being classed as stage 3. Stage 4 lung cancer means that the disease has spread to other parts of the body.
Stage 4 lung cancer is much more difficult to treat as the disease can be widespread throughout the body. Once the disease has spread to the lymph nodes, cancerous cells can be carried around the rest of the body where they can develop into tumours. Surgery is generally not an option for patients in this stage of lung cancer as surgeons reason that removing a visible tumour and leaving behind visible or microscopic metastases will not result in a cure. Stage 4 lung cancer is rarely “cured”. Patients with stage 4 lung cancer can either opt for chemotherapy or comfort care alone. Depending on several factors such as overall health of the patient and the age of the patient, chemotherapy is used either as treatment or to help relieve such symptoms as nausea. Comfort care is used when the patient has a minimal chance of survival and is designed to make the patient as comfortable as possible and to relieve the significant symptoms they may be suffering. Chemotherapy is the primary form of treatment for stage 4 lung cancer and there is agreement that it serves to extend life and treat cancer related symptomology.