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Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment Options

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At Blue Ridge Cancer Care, our medical and radiation oncologists develop personalized non-small cell lung cancer treatment plans in patient-friendly cancer centers throughout Southwest Virginia, including Roanoke, Salem, Blacksburg, Pulaski, Wytheville, Rocky Mount, Lexington, Bedford, Princeton, Fairlea, and Low Moor. We’re here to guide you through the lung cancer treatment process without the added stress of navigating a large hospital system.

In addition to the most advanced lung cancer treatments, including targeted therapies and immunotherapy, we also offer access to clinical trials, which provide access to emerging treatment options.

There are several types of lung cancer, each with a different treatment approach.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Treatments

NSCLC makes up about 85% of all lung cancers and includes subtypes like adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. Treatment is personalized based on the cancer’s stage and location in the body, genetic markers, and the patient’s overall health. Your oncologist will discuss the recommended treatment plan and why each therapy was chosen for you.

Surgery

Surgery may be an option when the cancer is confined to one area in the lung or nearby lymph nodes, and the patient is healthy enough to undergo an operation.

The right type of surgery will be determined by the surgeon, who will coordinate with your BRCC oncologists.

  • Lobectomy: Removal of one lobe of the lung (most common)
  • Segmentectomy/Wedge Resection: Removal of a smaller portion of lung tissue, often for patients with limited lung function
  • Pneumonectomy: Removal of the entire lung in more advanced cases

Surgery is often followed by chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or targeted therapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence.

Radiation Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Radiation uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells. At Blue Ridge Cancer Care, our radiation oncologists use precise techniques that minimize side effects to healthy tissue.

Radiation may be used:

  • Before surgery to shrink a tumor
  • After surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells
  • As the primary treatment if surgery isn’t possible
  • For symptom relief in advanced cancers

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) is a highly focused method that delivers strong doses over fewer sessions and is particularly effective for early-stage lung tumors in non-surgical candidates.

Lung Cancer Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy drugs are typically given intravenously through your arm, or a port if one was inserted surgically to reduce the number of needle sticks. BRCC’s infusion suites are designed to provide a comfortable setting for patients receiving medical oncology therapies in our outpatient cancer centers.

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells. It may be used:

  • Before surgery (neoadjuvant) to shrink tumors
  • After surgery (adjuvant) to reduce the risk of recurrence
  • In combination with radiation
  • As the main treatment in advanced disease
Common chemotherapy drugs for non-small cell lung cancer include cisplatin, carboplatin, paclitaxel, and pemetrexed. Chemotherapy may also be used alongside immunotherapy or targeted therapy as part of the personalized treatment plan.

Our team is also skilled at managing chemotherapy side effects to help maintain your quality of life during treatment. You may be interested in learning more about side effect management.

Targeted Therapy for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Targeted therapy is a type of precision medicine used to counteract specific genetic changes detected through biomarker testing. It’s available to non-small cell lung cancer patients whose test results show the presence of a biomarker.

Common targets and corresponding treatments:

  • EGFR mutations: Treated with drugs like osimertinib or erlotinib
  • ALK rearrangements: Treated with alectinib, brigatinib, or lorlatinib
  • ROS1, RET, MET, BRAF, KRAS G12C mutations: Targeted with FDA-approved targeted therapies tailored to the mutation

These drugs are designed to specifically block the genetic change that causes cancer cells to multiply. They can be given through IV infusion or taken orally and often have fewer side effects than chemotherapy. Targeted therapies have dramatically improved survival for patients with advanced NSCLC.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy harnesses your body’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. It is commonly used in advanced NSCLC and can be given alone or in combination with chemotherapy. It also has fewer side effects than chemotherapy, since it targets cancer cells while avoiding healthy cells.

Checkpoint inhibitors are the primary type of immunotherapy used to turn on the body’s immune response so it can recognize cancer cells.

  • PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors target tumors with high levels of the PD-L1 protein that cause the cancer to grow.
  • CTLA-4 inhibitors are drugs that boost the immune response and block CTLA-4 protein on T cells, which promotes cancer cell growth.

Immunotherapy can extend survival and sometimes lead to long-term disease control for those with non-small cell lung cancer. Your Blue Ridge Cancer Care oncologist will review the biomarker tests to determine if immunotherapy would be helpful for you.

Access Clinical Research Trials for Lung Cancer in Southwest Virginia

As one of the largest and most active clinical research programs in the region, we provide cancer patients access to the latest therapies and treatment options. We partner with the Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) to bring research trials evaluating new and drug combinations that effectively treat lung cancer.

Your oncologist will discuss whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Why Choose Blue Ridge Cancer Care for Lung Cancer Treatment?

Patients across Southwest Virginia have chosen Blue Ridge Cancer Care for fifty years for our unmatched combination of:

  • Leading-edge lung cancer treatments and personalized treatment plans
  • Convenient locations in Roanoke, Salem, Blacksburg, and other cities in Southwest Virginia
  • Access to clinical trials
  • Lower treatment costs compared to hospitals
  • A personalized approach from a compassionate team

    You don’t have to travel far or pay more to get expert, comprehensive lung cancer treatment. At Blue Ridge Cancer Care, we’re by your side every step of the way.