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This page discusses the use of surgery for the treatment of lung cancer. For a thorough review of surgical procedures for cancer treatment, please see the surgery treatment monograph .
Surgery is the initial procedure in the treatment of many solid cancers. Surgery and other invasive procedures work by removing cancerous tissues.
Surgery is used to remove the cancer cells from the lungs. It is primarily used for early stage, non-small cell lung cancer. Fewer than 30% of patients are diagnosed early enough to benefit from surgery.
There are a few options for surgery:
Most lung cancer surgery involves a thoracotomy, a surgical method for opening the chest wall in order to access the lungs. The doctor makes an incision between two ribs from front to back. Then, the chest wall is opened, which provides access to the lungs.
A newer, less-invasive procedure, using a tiny camera inserted into the chest, may be possible but only for small tumors. This video-assisted procedure should only be performed by a surgeon experienced in this new technique.
Once the surgeon has access to the lungs, he or she removes the cancerous tissue and/or tumor from the lungs. If the cancer has spread outside the lung, the surgeon will remove that tissue also. To ensure that the lungs will reinflate after surgery, one or more catheters (chest tubes) are inserted to drain air and blood from the pleural space between the lungs and chest wall. The incision is closed with stitches or staples, and bandaged to prevent infection. You will be sent to the intensive care unit for recovery.
Even with surgery, which offers the best chance for a cure, lung cancer often recurs. The doctor may recommend radiation or chemotherapy post-operatively.
The following complications may occur with lung surgery:
After surgery, you may need certain interventions:
In the hospital and after you leave:
Sources:
American Cancer Society
American Lung Association
Conn's Current Therapy 2001 , 53rd ed. W.B. Saunders Company; 2001.
National Cancer Institute
Primary Care Medicine , 4th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000.
Last reviewed February 2003 by Jondavid Pollock, MD, PhD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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