Treatment

Main treatments for lung cancer

The treatment you'll have for lung cancer depends on:

• the size of the cancer and where it is
• the type of lung cancer you have
• if it has spread to other parts of your body
• if the cancer has certain genetic changes
• your general health
• which treatment options you decide are right for you

You may be offered a combination of treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted medicines.

Your specialist treatment team will:

• explain the treatments, the benefits and side effects
• work with you to make a treatment plan that's best for you
• help you to manage the side effects of treatment

If you have any questions or worries, you can talk to your specialist team.

Surgery

You may have surgery to remove cancer from your lung. Part or all of your lung may also need to be removed.

You'll be supported through surgery and recovery by your specialist treatment team.

Find out more

• Types of surgery for lung cancer (Cancer Research UK)

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is medicine that kills cancer cells.

You may have chemotherapy for lung cancer:

• if you're unable to have surgery
• if cancer has spread to other parts of your body
• before surgery to try to make your tumour smaller
• after surgery to stop the cancer coming back

Find out more

• Chemotherapy for lung cancer (Cancer Research UK)

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses radiation to kill cancer cells. A machine is used to target beams of radiation directly at tumours.

You may have radiotherapy for lung cancer:

• if you're unable to have surgery
• after surgery to stop the cancer coming back
• if the cancer has spread to other parts of your body

Find out more

• Radiotherapy for lung cancer (Cancer Research UK)

Targeted medicines and immunotherapy

Targeted medicines kill cancer cells or stop them growing as quickly.

Immunotherapy is where medicines are used to help your immune system kill cancer.

Targeted medicines or immunotherapy are sometimes used to treat advanced lung cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Find out more

• Targeted and immunotherapy treatment for lung cancer (Cancer Research UK)

What happens if you've been told your cancer cannot be cured

If you've been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer, it may be hard to treat and not possible to cure.

The aim of treatment will be to slow down the growth and spread of the cancer, to help with the symptoms, and help you live longer.

Finding out cancer cannot be cured can be very hard news to take in.

You'll be referred to a team of doctors and nurses called a symptom control team or palliative care team.

They will help you to manage your symptoms and make you feel more comfortable.

The palliative care team can also help you and your loved ones get any other support you need.

Find out more

• About advanced cancer (Macmillan Cancer Support)

Sexual Health Advice

• Sexual Health Advice - Introduction and Overview
• The MenB vaccine that helps protect against gonorrhoea
• Sexual Health - Mpox and its dangers for Gay Men
• What happens when you visit an STI Clinic
• Ejaculation issues are common sexual problems in men
• The Male Menopause for men in their late 40s to early 50s
• Help and care if you have been Sexually Assaulted
• Mental health issues and self-harm are common amongst gay men