Lung cancer is a malignant tumour of the lungs.
Most commonly it is bronchogenic carcinoma (about 90%).
Lung cancer is the most lethal malignant tumour worldwide, causing up to 3 million deaths annually..
Although lung cancer is a very serious disease, it is one that a team of healthcare professionals can treat. This team may include a surgeon, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, lung specialist, oncology nurse, and social worker.
But not all people with lung cancer should have the same treatment. Doctors must take into account each patient’s specific medical situation. These guidelines are intended to help you understand the treatment options available to people with lung cancer so that you and your doctors can work together to identify which treatment best meets your medical and personal needs.
In this study you’ll find flow charts that doctors call “decision trees.” Each one shows how you and your doctor can arrive at the choices you need to make about your treatment, depending on the type, location, and extent of the lung cancer.
Here you will also find background information on lung cancer with explanations of cancer stage, work-up, and treatment – all categories used in the flow charts. We’ve also provided a glossary. Words in blue italics are defined in the glossary; you can access their definitions in a small pop-up window by clicking the word.