Radiation therapy and chemotherapy may also be used to slow the progress of the disease and to manage symptoms. Treating Small Cell Lung Cancer Small cell lung cancer spreads quickly. In many cases, cancer cells have already spread to other parts of the body when the disease is diagnosed. In order to reach cancer cells throughout the body, doctors almost always use chemotherapy. Some patients have radiation therapy to the brain even though no cancer is found there.
Surgery is part of the treatment plan for a small number of patients with small cell lung cancer.
Followup Care Followup care after treatment for lung cancer is very important. Regular checkups ensure that changes in health are noticed, and if the cancer returns or a new cancer develops, it can be treated as soon as possible. Checkups may include physical exams, chest x-rays, or lab tests. Between scheduled appointments, people who have had lung cancer should report any health problems to their doctor as soon as they appear. This information was reprinted in whole or in part from the National Cancer Institute's booklet, What You Need to Know About Lung Cancer.