- Lung cancer that has spread throughout the body is usually treated with chemotherapy, as long as the patient is healthy enough to tolerate the side effects. According to cancer.org, the most commonly used drugs are Avastin and Erbitux (see Resources below).
- Lung cancer that has spread to only one other organ, such as the brain, can sometimes be treated with radiation therapy. Radiation is also an option for people who cannot tolerate surgery or chemotherapy.
- Like radiation therapy, surgery is of limited use for stage 4 lung cancer patients. Surgery is also an option when the cancer has spread to only one other organ.
- Cryosurgery, a treatment that freezes and destroys cancer tissue, may be used to control symptoms in stage 4 lung cancer patients.
previous post