Cancer Lung Cancer Treatment Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer By Lynne Eldridge, MD Lynne Eldridge, MD Facebook Lynne Eldrige, MD, is a lung cancer physician, patient advocate, and award-winning author of "Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time." Learn about our editorial process Updated on May 26, 2022 Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD Doru Paul, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents How It Works Using Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer Drugs and How They're Given Side Effects Coping and Supporting Your Body Why Isn't Chemo a Cure? Chemotherapy refers to the use of cytotoxic (cell-killing) medications to kill cancer cells. It's often used to treat lung cancer either alone or in conjunction with other modes of treatment. Chemotherapy for lung cancer may be given before or after surgery, along with immunotherapy medications or radiation, or as a means of managing metastatic lung cancer and extending life. Kevin Laubacher / The Image Bank / Getty Images How Chemotherapy Works Chemotherapy medications work by killing rapidly dividing cells. Since cancer cells divide quicker than most cells, they are particularly susceptible to these drugs. Different chemotherapy medications work at different stages of cell division. For this reason, two or more medications are often given at the same time to kill as many cancer cells as possible. This is known as combination chemotherapy. Combining chemo medications offers several benefits. These chemo combinations can: Decrease the chance that tumors will become resistant to treatment Attack the cancer with everything early on rather than waiting to see which one drug will be most effective Target different aspects of the cancer cells all at once Address the fact that cancer cells continually change and different cells may respond to different drugs Be more powerful together than one drug used alone Cancer Cells vs. Normal Cells: How Are They Different? Using Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer Unlike surgery and radiation therapy, which are considered local treatments (targeting the tumor directly at its location), chemotherapy is a systemic treatment, meaning that it works to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy for lung cancer is often recommended to: Kill cells remaining after surgery: Known as adjuvant chemotherapy, this treatment is used after tumors have been removed to kill any cancer cells that may have spread but are undetectable by scans. It is often recommended for people with stage 2 and stage 3A non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to reduce the risk of recurrence. Be used in combination with radiotherapy in patients with stage 3B and 3C lung cancer who are not surgical candidates. Shrink a tumor before surgery: In some cases, chemotherapy is used before surgery to shrink a tumor and improve the chances that surgery will be effective. This method is often referred to as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Prolong life: In cases of advanced lung cancer, chemotherapy can extend life by reducing the size of a tumor or preventing additional growth. This is referred to as maintenance chemotherapy. Relieve cancer symptoms: When a tumor is causing symptoms such as pain or shortness of breath, chemotherapy may be able to reduce the size of the tumor to decrease symptoms. Help immunotherapy drugs work: Immunotherapy drugs (checkpoint inhibitors) stimulate the immune system to fight cancer, but sometimes cancer cells can hide. Chemotherapy drugs break the cells down so the immune system can identify them and target malignancies. Put cancer into remission: Lung cancer is rarely ever fully cured. However, when chemo is combined with immunotherapy drugs, some people may experience full or partial remission and long-lasting control of their cancer. When chemotherapy is given only to ease symptoms or improve quality of life—and not with the intent of curing lung cancer or improving survival—it's referred to as palliative chemotherapy. If your healthcare provider suggests chemo for this reason, be sure to discuss it carefully. If you prefer continuing to fight the cancer, be clear about that with your practitioner. First-Line Therapy First-line therapy refers to the first treatment given for advanced lung cancer (beyond stage 3), including any combination of medications. These drugs are considered the "gold standard" of treatment and are most likely to be effective. Increasingly, immunotherapy drugs such as Keytruda (pembrolizumab) are being used, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy, as first-line therapy for NSCLC. Some genetic mutations, such as KRAS G12C, are implicated in lung cancer and can be specifically targeted with drugs that are appropriately called targeted therapies. That's why oncologists now routinely order genetic testing before deciding which options to use as first-line treatments. First-Line Treatment for Lung Cancer Second-Line Therapy For patients that start with targeted therapy, chemotherapy may be brought in as a second-line choice either because the cancer is continuing to grow or because side effects from other treatments cannot be tolerated. In other cases, chemotherapy may be combined with a targeted therapy drug as a second-line treatment. For instance, chemo is sometimes used with Cyramza (ramucirumab), which stops the formation of new blood vessels so a tumor can't survive. Second-line treatment is less likely to be effective than first-line treatment, but it can offer a longer and better quality of life. Many people living with lung cancer now receive further therapies (third-line, fourth-line treatment, and so on). Chemotherapy Drugs and Delivery Many different medications are used to treat lung cancer. Most commonly, NSCLC treatment begins with either cisplatin or carboplatin (these are known as "platinum" drugs) combined with another medication. Common medications used in lung cancer include: Platinol (cisplatin)Paraplatin (carboplatin)Taxotere (docetaxel)VePesid or Etopophos (etoposide)Gemzar (gemcitabine)Taxol (paclitaxel)Alimta (pemetrexed)Navelbine (vinorelbine) With small cell lung cancer, first-line treatment usually includes a combination of a platinum drug and VePesid (etoposide), often in combination with the immunotherapy drug Tecentriq (atezolizumab). Second-line treatment may include either the immunotherapy drug Opdivo (nivolumab) or a single chemotherapy drug such as Taxol (paclitaxel) or Hycamtin (topetecan). How They Are Given Some chemotherapy medications are given as an oral pill, but most are given intravenously. If you will be having IV chemotherapy, you may be asked to make a choice between having an IV placed at each visit or having a chemotherapy port placed. With a port, an intravenous line is threaded into the large blood vessels near the top of the chest, and a small metal or plastic device is placed under your skin. There are advantages and disadvantages to each method, yet a port (or sometimes a PICC line) can reduce the number of needle sticks necessary during treatment. The initial chemotherapy treatment for lung cancer usually involves a combination of two or more drugs. These are often given in cycles of three to four weeks at least four to six times. A combination of drugs that work at different phases of cell division increases the chance of treating as many cancer cells as possible. Since different cells are all on different timing in the process, repeated sessions also increase the chance of treating more cancer cells. What to Bring to a Chemotherapy Session Side Effects of Chemotherapy Many side effects of chemotherapy are related to the "normal" effect of chemotherapy on rapidly dividing cells. Cells that divide most rapidly include those in bone marrow, hair follicles, and the digestive tract, so chemotherapy has a significant impact on these areas. Everyone responds to chemotherapy differently. However, some side effects are common: Fatigue (the most common side effect) Nausea and vomiting Mouth sores Taste changes Loss of appetite, which can place you at risk for cancer cachexia (weight loss and muscle wasting that's responsible for nearly 20% of cancer deaths) Anemia, low red blood cell count Hair loss Skin changes Fingernail changes Depression Chemobrain Peripheral neuropathy Fertility problems Kidney problems Thrombocytopenia, or low blood platelet count Another problem is neutropenia, a low white blood cell count seen in a majority of cancer patients. Having a low white blood cell count can predispose you to infections and sometimes cause very serious health concerns that, as a chemo patient, you should watch for and discuss with your healthcare provider. What you will experience depends on the medications you're given and other factors such as your age, sex, and general medical condition. Thankfully, tremendous strides to help people manage these issues have been made over the past few decades. Long Term Side Effects of Chemotherapy for Cancer Treatment Coping and Supporting Your Body Good nutrition is an essential part of staying strong during chemo treatments. Some people include complementary treatments such as nutritional supplements into their diets. Discuss any supplement use while undergoing chemo with your oncologist before doing so. Certain supplements can decrease the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs for lung cancer, while others may make the medication toxic. As for side effects, you may have few or you may have severe reactions to your medication(s). These can improve or worsen over time. Sometimes a medication may need to be changed, but often there are medications and treatments that can control your symptoms and make you more comfortable. Some ways to manage side effects include: Anti-nausea medications: These are given preventatively with some chemo drugs so that you may never feel sick to your stomach. Other times they are offered on an as-needed basis.Good oral hygiene: This is imperative to manage mouth sores and prevent oral infections.Iron supplements: These may be prescribed to offset anemia and fatigue, but the first course of treatment is to get rest and alter your lifestyle. Fighting cancer will require you to slow down.Brain exercises: To combat the hazy-mind feeling and forgetfulness that can occur with chemobrain, some people make an effort to keep their mind engaged by doing crossword puzzles or other stimulating activities. The management of chemo side effects has improved significantly in recent years. If you're struggling with the effects of these drugs, it may be helpful to join a cancer support group where you'll have the opportunity to talk to others who are experiencing similar challenges in their lives. Why Can't Chemo Cure Lung Cancer? Healthcare providers rarely use the word "cured" in relation to lung cancer. Even if you go into remission and have no evidence of cancer for years, the risk of dying from some cancers may persist for 15 years. The reason chemotherapy does not cure lung cancer for good is that tumors become resistant to the drugs over time. Cancer cells are, in a way, "smart." They constantly change and develop methods for escaping the treatments healthcare providers send their way. Resistance is one reason why, when a tumor has started to grow again while someone is on chemotherapy, an oncologist may choose different drugs the next time around. What Is a Durable Response? With a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, some people have experienced partial or complete remission of their cancer. Though the word "cure" still isn't used in this situation, some cancers may be controlled for a long period of time. Oncologists call this a durable response. Can Lung Cancer Ever Be Cured? A Word From Verywell It's a lot to process when learning about the effectiveness of lung cancer treatments and their possible side effects. When chemotherapy for lung cancer is recommended, it can be a significant physical and emotional undertaking, especially at the beginning. It may help to remember that the chemo of today is not the same as it was in the past, and that many side effects people once endured are less common due to improved treatments. Chemotherapy is still challenging, though, so you will need to build a strong support network to help you through the tough times. Surround yourself with those who can help you cope with all the phases and facets of treatment. 12 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Cancer Society. Chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer. Trignani M, Di Carlo C, Cefalogli C et al. Outcomes in Patients with pT1-T2, pN0-N1 Breast Cancer After Conservative Surgery and Whole-breast Radiotherapy. In Vivo. 2017;31(1):151–158. doi:10.21873/invivo.11039 Lewis J, Gillaspie EA, Osmundson EC, Horn L. Before or after: evolving neoadjuvant approaches to locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Front Oncol. 2018;8:5. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00005 Wu J, Waxman DJ. Immunogenic chemotherapy: Dose and schedule dependence and combination with immunotherapy. 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Cancer Manag Res. 2019;11:6765-6774. doi:10.2147/CMAR.S213553 Additional Reading National Cancer Institute. Non-small cell lung cancer treatment options – Health Professional Version. Ninomiya K, Hotta K. Pembrolizumab for the first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy. 2018;18(10):1015-1021. doi:10.1080/14712598.2018.1522300 By Lynne Eldridge, MD Lynne Eldrige, MD, is a lung cancer physician, patient advocate, and award-winning author of "Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit