Mesothelioma Lung Cancer Treatment

The main goal of treatment for asbestos lung cancer is to remove cancer cells, prevent the spread of cells and tumors, and reduce symptoms and pain in cancer. Many types of lung cancer can not be cured with the available treatments, so the main goal of therapy is to reduce symptoms to improve the quality of life and survival rates of patients.


Often, treatment options will be limited by the patient's cancer stage. Lung cancer spreads to lymph nodes and organs away during development, making treatment more difficult. Those diagnosed in the early stages of the disease have the most treatment options and experience the highest survival rates.

Treatment of lung cancer by surgery

The ideal surgical goal is to remove the tumor and cancer tissue nearby, eliminating the disease completely. The rate of tissue removal varies depending on the size of the tumor, its location and how far the cancer has spread. Doctors also consider pre-existing conditions, such as heart disease, which may make the patient unqualified for surgery.

Treatment of lung cancer with chemotherapy

If there is clear evidence that lung cancer has spread from the initial tumor, chemo is recommended. This treatment is generally not curative for lung cancer, but is known to reduce the size of the tumor and to remove cancer cells that have spread to the lymph nodes. For patients, this usually means longer life and comfort.

Treatment of lung cancer with Radiation

If patients with lung cancer are not eligible for surgery, radiation is often recommended. Radiation therapy uses high energy target radiation to stop cancer cell division and reduce tumor size. The amount of radiation given is thousands of times greater than the amount used in x-ray images, but the treatment is divided in doses to limit damage to healthy tissue.

Treatment of lung cancer with Experimental treatment

While surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are the pillars of long-term lung management, clinicians continue to conduct clinical trials to test new treatment combinations. The ultimate goal is to improve the current success rate while minimizing unwanted side effects.