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Lung Cancer Treatment

After your doctor makes a diagnosis of lung cancer and determines the stage (extent) of the cancer, he/she will suggest treatment options. The goal of treatment is to destroy the cancer and prevent it from spreading.

Treatment options for the most common lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, vary but may include: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of treatments.¹

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. External radiation is the most common type of radiation for lung cancer. It comes from a large machine that sends radiation toward the cancer. Treatments are usually five days a week for several weeks. Side effects mainly depend on the type of radiation and dose. Radiation therapy is non-invasive but it may harm the esophagus and cause problems with swallowing.¹

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer drugs to kill cancer cells. These drugs can be injected through a vein or taken by mouth. Chemotherapy is given to lung cancer patients in cycles with a rest period after each treatment cycle. Side effects, which range from fatigue, hair loss and diarrhea to infection, nausea and vomiting, will depend mainly on which drugs are used and how much. You should discuss all possible side effects with your doctor.  

Surgery

During surgery for lung cancer, your doctor will remove either a piece of the lung containing the tumor and some healthy tissue around it; a section of the lung containing the tumor – known as a lobectomy; part of the bronchus (airway leading to the lung); or the entire lung, if the cancer has spread.²

Lung cancer surgery is traditionally performed through a long incision called a thoracotomy. Your surgeon may also need to spread your ribs to access the lung. All of the cancer that can be seen during surgery will be removed, but some patients may be given chemotherapy or radiation therapy afterwards to kill any remaining cancer cells.

Recovery from traditional lung cancer surgery may take several weeks or months.³ Your doctor will explain exactly what to expect and what can be done to make recovery easier, including prescribing medicine to control pain. You may be given respiratory therapy and exercises to keep the lungs expanded and prevent fluid build-up. You may also feel short of breath because there is less lung tissue and capacity to supply the body with oxygen. For this reason, you may have to limit activities for some time. In most cases, the remaining lung tissue gradually expands somewhat, making it easier to breathe.

da Vinci® Surgery for Lung Cancer

If your doctor recommends surgery to treat lung cancer, you may be a candidate for a safe, effective and minimally invasive procedure – da Vinci Surgery. Using the most advanced technology available, da Vinci Surgery provides your doctor with superior vision, precision, dexterity and control. A da Vinci Lobectomy allows for improved access inside the chest cavity and lungs.

Because da Vinci Surgery is performed through a few tiny incisions, spreading your ribs to access the lung is avoided. da Vinci is minimally invasive, unlike thoracotomy - the traditional way to access the chest cavity - which requires a long incision between the ribs, and often a long and painful recovery.⁴

A da Vinci Lobectomyoffers lung cancer patients the benefits of surgery, but with a minimally invasive approach. Those potential benefits include:

• Low cancer reoccurrence, mortality in advanced disease⁵
• Minimal pain⁵, including low postoperative neuralgia (pain caused by nerve damage)⁶
• Low blood loss⁶
• Few complications⁶
• Fast return of lung function⁵
• Short hospital stay6
• Fast recovery5

The da Vinci Surgical System is designed to provide surgeons with enhanced capabilities, including magnified, high-definition, 3D vision. Your doctor controls the da Vinci System, which translates his or her hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside your body.  Though it is often called a “robot,” da Vinci cannot act on its own. The surgery is performed entirely by your doctor.

Together, da Vinci technology allows your doctor to perform complex procedures, such as a lobectomy, through just a few tiny openings. As a result, you may be able to get back to your life faster ― without the usual recovery following major surgery.

The da Vinci System has been used successfully worldwide in hundreds of thousands of procedures to date.

As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is specific to each patient and procedure. Before you decide on surgery, discuss treatment options with your doctor. Understanding the benefits and risks of each treatment can help you make the best decision for your individual situation.