When is surgery used to treat lung cancer?
ANSWER
The decision to perform surgery is based on:
- The type of lung cancer
- How far it has spread
- Your overall health, especially the function of your lungs.
Doctors prefer to treat non-small-cell lung cancer with surgery. During the operation, the surgeon removes the tumor, surrounding lung tissue, and lymph nodes. Sometimes, the entire lung must be taken out.
Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson on September 20, 2019
SOURCES:
National Cancer Institute.
National Institutes of Health.
WebMD Medical Reference from the American College of Physicians: “Section 12 VIII Lung Cancer.”
News release, FDA.
American Cancer Society.
American Lung Association.
SOURCES:
National Cancer Institute.
National Institutes of Health.
WebMD Medical Reference from the American College of Physicians: “Section 12 VIII Lung Cancer.”
News release, FDA.
American Cancer Society.
American Lung Association.
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