It's important not to rub, scrub, or scratch any sensitive spots. Ask your doctor or nurse for advice on relieving any itching or discomfort you might have. And remember not to wash off the marks that will be used to guide the radiation therapy. Some people will experience a slight hardening of the shoulder and chest muscles that causes aching and stiffness. Radiation therapy does not usually cause nausea, but if it does occur, your physician can give you antinausea medications.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to treat cancer.
Because cancer cells usually grow faster than normal cells, they are more likely to be damaged and destroyed by these drugs. Chemotherapy drugs are made to kill cancer cells, so they may cure the cancer or at least control the growth of the tumor. Drug treatment programs are tailored to the needs of each person. Your specific combination of chemotherapy drugs and a schedule for treatment will be recommended by your doctor. She or he will develop your chemotherapy treatment plan by considering thing such as the kind of lung cancer you have, how widespread it is, and your general state of health.