Management of lung cancer

Surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and palliative care all have a role in the management of patients with lung cancer. Lung cancer is a heterogeneous group of diseases at both histopathological and molecular levels. Individual treatment plans should be contingent on the histological and molecular characteristics of the tumour as well as on the stage of disease at diagnosis, performance status and co-morbidities. Recent advances in the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have included histology-directed, molecular-directed, and maintenance therapies. There have been fewer advances in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) management and treatment outcomes have plateaued. Management decisions should be made at a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting, with core members including a respiratory physician, an oncologist, a thoracic surgeon, a radiologist, a pathologist, and a palliative care team member.