How is surgery used to treat lung cancer?
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Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:Three main types of surgery are most often used in lung cancer treatment. Whether to operate and which approach to take depends on the size and location of the tumor in the lung, the extent of the cancer and the general health of the patient, among other factors.
Segmental or wedge resection is the removal of a small part of the lung. Lobectomy is the removal of an entire lobe of the lung is removed. Pneumonectomy is the removal of an entire lung.
Surgery may be complemented by radiation therapy, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, targeted therapy or any combination of these therapies.Three main types of surgery are most often used in lung cancer treatment. Whether to operate and which approach to take depends on the size and location of the tumor in the lung, the extent of the cancer and the general health of the patient, among... More -
Dr. Raja M. Flores of The Mount Sinai Medical Center answered:Thoracic surgeons are specially trained to perform lung cancer surgery. Their goal is complete removal of the lung tumor as well as the nearby lymph nodes in the chest. The tumor must be removed with a surrounding border of normal lung tissue called the margin.
The lungs have a total of five lobes. There are three in the right lung and two in the left. Removing the lobe which has the cancer is called a "lobectomy." Depending on the size and location of the tumor, the surgeon will decide how much of the lung needs to be removed in order to most effectively treat the tumor. If the surgeon is unable to remove the entire lobe for whatever reasons, just the tumor can be removed in a procedure called a wedge resection, surrounded by a margin of normal lung. For tumors close to the center of the chest, a pneumonectomy can be done. This is a surgical procedure that removes the entire lung. Patients can continue to breathe comfortably with a single lung.Thoracic surgeons are specially trained to perform lung cancer surgery. Their goal is complete removal of the lung tumor as well as the nearby lymph nodes in the chest. The tumor must be removed with a surrounding border of normal lung... More
