Treatments / Side Affects
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Combination chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for small cell lung cancer because of its quick growth, spreading, and sensitivity to cytotoxic drugs. This type of therapy permits tumor cells to be attacked at different parts of the cell cycle. Half of the clients with tumors at early stages achieve complete tumor remission with combination chemotherapy. Combination chemotherapy is also used as an addition to surgery or radiation therapy. To relieve symptoms from airway obstruction, bronchodilators may be prescribed. Surgery offers the only real chance for a cure in non-small cell lung cancer. The objective of surgery is to eliminate all involved tissue while preserving much functional lung as possible. Radiation therapy is used alone or in combination with surgery or chemotherapy for lung cancer. The treatment goal may be either cure or symptom relief.