Stage I
-
Preferred: Surgery to remove the cancer
-
If surgery isn’t possible: Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), or sometimes radiofrequency ablation
Stage II – IIIA (Resectable / operable)
-
Main treatment: Surgery
-
After surgery, additional therapy may be recommended to lower risk of recurrence:
-
Chemotherapy
-
Targeted drugs (for patients with EGFR or ALK mutations, such as osimertinib or alectinib)
-
Immunotherapy (such as pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, or durvalumab)
-
Stage IIIA (sometimes resectable)
-
Combined approach: Surgery + chemotherapy ± radiation
-
Immunotherapy: May be added before or after surgery (pembrolizumab, durvalumab, or nivolumab)
Stage IIIB – IIIC (not operable)
-
Standard choice: Chemotherapy + radiation given together
-
If the cancer is stable after this: One year of immunotherapy (durvalumab)
Stage IV (metastatic / spread to other organs)
-
Options may include:
-
Immunotherapy (drugs like pembrolizumab)
-
Targeted therapy (if your tumor has certain mutations such as EGFR or ALK)
-
Chemotherapy
-
-
Molecular and multi-omics testing (DNA, RNA, protein analysis) can help identify the most effective personalized treatment
Key Point
Every patient’s treatment is individualized.
Your doctor will recommend the best plan based on your stage, overall health, and molecular test results.