If your lung cancer is considered stage two, it has spread to the nearby lymph nodes, but has not traveled elsewhere yet. This is considered early-stage lung cancer, but it can be difficult to remove all of the cancer surgically, as your cancer cells are on the move, and are not always easy to see.
Your oncologist may suggest adjuvant chemotherapy–or adding chemotherapy after you have undergone surgery–to kill any and all errant cancer cells and keep a recurrence at bay. This approach is usually taken when the risk of recurrence is high. The evidence-based theory is that hitting the lung cancer early and hard with chemotherapy can literally stop progression in its tracks. Chemotherapy does have side effects, but these can be managed with medication and lifestyle changes.
New studies have also shown promise for using targeted therapies as adjuvant treatment after lung surgery. Specifically, using targeted therapy for patients whose lung cancer has an EGFR mutation has recently been studied and may be used in some settings in place of adjuvant chemotherapy. Ask your doctor if adjuvant treatment with either chemotherapy or a targeted drug is right for you.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Keith Cengel is a radiation oncologist and an associate professor at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Read More
If your lung cancer is considered stage two, it has spread to the nearby lymph nodes, but has not traveled elsewhere yet. This is considered early-stage lung cancer, but it can be difficult to remove all of the cancer surgically, as your cancer cells are on the move, and are not always easy to see.
Your oncologist may suggest adjuvant chemotherapy–or adding chemotherapy after you have undergone surgery–to kill any and all errant cancer cells and keep a recurrence at bay. This approach is usually taken when the risk of recurrence is high. The evidence-based theory is that hitting the lung cancer early and hard with chemotherapy can literally stop progression in its tracks. Chemotherapy does have side effects, but these can be managed with medication and lifestyle changes.
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New studies have also shown promise for using targeted therapies as adjuvant treatment after lung surgery. Specifically, using targeted therapy for patients whose lung cancer has an EGFR mutation has recently been studied and may be used in some settings in place of adjuvant chemotherapy. Ask your doctor if adjuvant treatment with either chemotherapy or a targeted drug is right for you.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Keith Cengel is a radiation oncologist and an associate professor at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Read More
