Treatment options for brain metastases from small cell lung cancer? Generally chemotherapy is the main approach

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for about 20% of lung cancer. It is highly malignant, has a short doubling time, early and extensive metastasis, is sensitive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and has a high initial remission rate. However, it is very prone to secondary drug resistance and relapse. Treatment is mainly systemic chemotherapy.

The treatment of small cell lung cancer is mainly chemotherapy, which can be combined or sequentially with radiotherapy. For less than 5% of early patients limited to the lung parenchyma, surgical treatment is considered. Limited-stage SCLC is mainly treated with synchronous chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy and radiotherapy sequentially. Synchronous chemoradiotherapy is better than sequential treatment. Synchronous chemoradiotherapy should be given as early as possible, and preventive whole-brain radiotherapy should be given. Preventive whole-brain radiotherapy has significant benefits for survival. Extensive-stage SCLC is mainly treated with chemotherapy, and local or metastatic lesions are treated electively. The treatment level of small cell lung cancer has been at a plateau in the past 30 years. Only some progress has been made in synchronous chemoradiotherapy and whole-brain preventive radiotherapy. At present, the staging and standardized treatment of small cell lung cancer during the initial treatment are still the key to obtaining satisfactory results. Small cell lung cancer has a high degree of malignancy, poor prognosis, and is prone to metastasis and spread. If the tumor is only confined to the lungs and located in the periphery, then the tumor can be removed surgically first. Chemotherapy can be performed after surgery. If the cancer is located at the hilum of the lung or has metastasized, surgery is not recommended. Chemotherapy can be performed, which can kill tumor cells and delay tumor growth, thereby prolonging survival. Patients should eat a light diet during chemotherapy, and avoid greasy, indigestible and fried foods. Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, eat small meals frequently, match food reasonably, diversify the diet, and eat a balanced diet. Avoid fatigue, rest, and have a regular work and rest schedule during the intervals between radiotherapy and chemotherapy to avoid infection.
The prognosis of the disease is that the average survival (MS) in the limited stage is 12-20 months, and the 5-year survival rate (SR) is 10-20%; for extensive stage MS, it is 7-12 months, and the 5-year SR is less than 2%.