Non small cell lung cancer chemotherapy is mostly done on an outpatient basis. It depends on the stage of the cancer and overall health of the patient.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer that spreads very slowly than small cell lung cancer.

There are three types of NSCLC-

• Adenocarcinoma found in the outer area of the lung.
• Squamous cell carcinoma found in the center of the lung.
• Large cell carcinoma that occurs in any part of the lung and tends to spread rapidly than the other two types.

Risk Factors for NSCLC

Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. The risk depends on how much a person smokes and how long the person has been smoking. People who do not smoke but who are exposed to somebody else’s smoke are also at risk. This is called passive smoking.

High levels of air pollution and drinking water with high levels of arsenic increases the risk of lung cancer.

Radiation therapy to the lungs also increases the risk.

Working with or near the following carcinogenic chemicals or materials also enhance the risk-

• Asbestos
• Products using chloride and formaldehyde
• Certain alloys, paints, pigments, and preservatives

In case of non-small cell lung cancer or NSCLC, two drugs are used in combination. There are several drugs available to treat this disease depending on your health and specifications given by the doctor. Some of the commonly used drugs to treat NSCLC are-

• Cisplatin
• Carboplatin
• Paclitaxel
• Docetaxel
• Vinorelbine
• Gemcitabine
• Etoposide
• Irinotecan
• Vinblastine
• Mitomycin
• Ifosfamide
• Pemetrexed
• Erlotinib
• Bevacizumab
• Cetuximab
• Albumin-bound paclitaxel

This chemotherapy is given in cycles for about 3 to 4 weeks, with a recovery period in between two cycles. The patient could feel tired although many people can continue to work and enjoy their regular activities while receiving chemotherapy. There are many side effects of lung cancer chemotherapy.

Most of the conventional chemotherapy drugs are derived from nature. However, drugs used in targeted therapies are produced manually. Targeted chemotherapy inhibits function of certain proteins that promote the growth of cancer cells. These drugs are under clinical trials and are still being evaluated. However, they are used for patients with advanced stage lung cancer. Some of these drugs are-

A targeted therapy drug called bevacizumab prevents the formation of new blood vessels, and thus the tumor growth. This happens because a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor is blocked. This drug is used in combination with another chemotherapy drug to enhance survival in patients with advanced NSCLC. However, there are limitations to this drug as it causes severe bleeding.

Another drug used in targeted therapy called erlotinib blocks the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This is a protein found on the cell surface that stimulates cell division. Cancer cells tend to have excess EGFR and hence these proteins are blocked to stop tumor growth. This drug is given orally. It is given to people who do not respond to their first chemotherapy. However, even oral chemotherapy has side effects. The side effects of this drug are tiredness, diarrhea and acne-like rash.

Non small cell lung cancer chemotherapy does not work for all patients especially in case of targeted therapy. Different tumors spread and behave differently and thus every case differs from patient to patient. A drug that works for one person may not work for another. Clinical research is still going on to identify better drugs that would work on maximum patients.