How do you cure small cell lung cancer?

You rarely do: Small cell lung cancer is one of two major categories of lung cancer. It is often associated with smoking and is unfortunately often diagnosed too late to achieve a "cure". Rarely, we catch it early and it can be cut out. However, more often it is advanced and treatment options are only chemo tx and radiation. Some patients initially respond to the therapy, but rarely do patients live >5yrs.

Infrequent: Occasional small, peripheral in lung, surgically removed with clean margins. Most are not that way!

Rarely is cured.: It depends on the stage and if the cancer has spread. Small cell lung carcinoma is usually treated with chemotherapy and radiation. It is one of the most aggressive subtypes of lung cancer. Definitely consult with an oncologist, but patients with small cell should weigh the benefits of participating in treatment offered in clinical trials at university centers.

Chemotherapy&xrt: As with most cancers the earlier its diagnosed the better the chance 4 cure. If caught before lymph nodes or sites outside of the lung r caught then aggressive ctx/xrt have the ability 2 cure pts. A small stage 1 can b surgically removed &followed by ctx but it offers no benefit over ctx/xrt. Problem with small cell is that it melts away often but it tends 2come back in 1st 2 yrs as well.

See below: Small cell lung cancer is highly sensitive and responsive to chemotherapy and radiation. However, these tumors tend to relapse almost always within 1 year from treatment; they are often harder to treat when they relapse. Having said that when the disease is localized and limited to the chest at the time of diagnosis, one can treat with a combination of chemo and radiation with an intent to cure.

Potentially: Treatment and/or cure depends largely on stage and associated treatments at a given stage. For best results, lung cancer should be treated by a multi-discipline thoracic oncology program. Our best wishes to you in the fight against cancer. I hope these links help: http://goo.Gl/jx197 and http://goo.Gl/tplcd.

Rarely: Small, peripheral, found very early and removed. Most are not like that however!

Usually not: If found very early, it can be surgically removed. However, I am of the opinion that even if it's surgically removed, there are still cancer cells somewhere in the body. I am sure not all physicians subscribe to this belief, but that's my opinion.