Indications for surgical treatment of lung cancer

Surgery is the main method for treating lung cancer. As long as the tumor is not in stage IIIb or IV, surgical treatment is recommended or surgical treatment is the main method combined with other treatment methods.

So what are the main indications for surgical resection of lung cancer?

(1) There is no distant metastasis, such as metastasis to the liver, brain, adrenal glands, bones, or extrathoracic lymph nodes.

(2) The cancerous tissue has not invaded or spread to adjacent thoracic organs or tissues such as the aorta, superior vena cava, and esophagus, and no cancerous pleural effusion is present.

(3) No severe cardiopulmonary dysfunction or recent cardiac angina attack.

(4) Patients without severe liver or kidney disease or severe diabetes.

If the patient is older and has poor cardiopulmonary function, the treatment method should be chosen carefully. For patients with distant metastasis, if their physical condition can tolerate it after further examination, surgical treatment can also be chosen. For patients with small cell lung cancer, if the tumor stage is above stage I, chemotherapy or radiotherapy can be performed first, and then examinations can be performed to determine whether surgery can be performed.

Tips: Cancerous pleural effusion

Cancerous pleural effusion, also known as malignant pleural effusion, is mostly caused by malignant tumors. About 50% of lung cancer patients will develop pleural effusion during the course of the disease. It is a common complication of lung cancer, with main manifestations of dyspnea, chest pain, chest tightness, asthma, cough, bloody sputum, weight loss, anorexia, discomfort, etc. A small number of patients have no symptoms at first.