At present, cisplatin, etoposide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide are the most generally used medicines for the treatment of persons with small-cell lung cancer.

• Normal treatment of small-cell lung cancer includes a combination of chemotherapy with a cisplatin-containing regimen. Treatment cycles are repeated after every 3 weeks. People normally receive treatment for 4-6 cycles.
• The combination of cisplatin with etoposide (PE) is the most commonly used course of therapy in both limited- as well as extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer.
• Just recently, paclitaxel and topotecan have emerged as effective prescriptions in persons with small-cell lung cancer who have not been treated in the past. The response rates range from just about 40% with topotecan to 50% with paclitaxel.
• A number of doctors start radiotherapy to the chest as early as possible, whereas others may possibly give it with the fourth cycle of chemotherapy.

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• Radiation and chemotherapy: Sequential-radiation treatment could be given, followed by chemotherapy.
• If the patient is absolutely cured of the cancer, radiation therapy could be given to the patient’s skull to reduce the possibility of small-cell lung cancer spreading to his or her brain. This is known prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). It is generally given after the patient has finished the full chemotherapy and radiotherapy (to the thorax) treatment.

Treatment for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (small-cell lung cancer that remains incurable with in progress treatment options)

• People with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer are treated with combination chemotherapy. As of now, the combination of cisplatin or carboplatin and etoposide (PE) is the most commonly used for treatment.
• Radiation therapy could be used for relief of the following symptoms:

o Bone pains
o Compression of the food pipe (esophagus), windpipe, or superior vena cava caused by cancers

Tags: Cancer, Lung Cancer, Small Cell Lung Cancer