If the tumour is located in the outside part of the lung, away from the centre, and if it has not spread, it may be possible to remove it by surgery. Radiotherapy is the other major method of treatment. Radiotherapy uses high energy rays to damage cancer cells and stop their growth. In particular, it has a tendency to spread to distant parts of the body at a relatively early stage. As a result, small-cell lung cancers are generally less likely to be cured by surgery.
Chemotherapy is the main type of treatment and sometimes radiotherapy is used as well.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs travel through the bloodstream to almost every part of the body.