Choosing a treatment plan for small cell lung cancer

If you have small cell lung cancer, the main treatment will most likely be chemotherapy (chemo), either alone or with radiation. Very rarely, surgery might be done if it is limited stage cancer.

After the cancer is found and staged, your doctor will talk to you about treatment choices. Give yourself time to take in what you have learned. The most important things to think about include the stage and type of cancer, your overall health, the likely side effects of the treatment, and the chance of curing the cancer or helping you live longer. Age alone should not keep you from having treatment. Older people can be helped by treatment as much as younger people as long as their general health is good.

You may have different types of doctors on your treatment team, depending on the stage of your cancer and your treatment options. Many other experts may be involved in your care as well (nurses, respiratory therapists, social workers, etc.)