The primary treatment for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is radiation and chemotherapy, and surgery is only available for a small percentage of patients in the earliest stages.
According to our current guidelines, surgery may be considered after careful evaluation of a TNM stage of T1-2N0 (no lymph nodes or distant metastases; tumor diameter not more than 5 cm, and no invasion of vital blood vessels, organs, etc.), and the patient’s physical condition can tolerate surgery. Adjuvant therapy such as standardized chemotherapy and radiotherapy is also required after surgery, and some patients need to receive prophylactic brain radiotherapy to reduce the risk of brain metastasis.
Lung cancer is complex and varies from person to person. Your doctor will choose the most appropriate surgical plan for you based on your specific situation. As a patient, you don’t have to “eat up” the professional guidelines written for your doctor, just work with him or her to complete your treatment.
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Co-Author: Dr. Wang Xing, Peking University Cancer Hospital