Patients with non-small cell lung cancer may be treated in several ways and you should discuss the options with your doctor. The choice of treatment depends mainly on the size, location, and extent of your tumour and your general health status. Surgery is commonly used to treat 2 out of every 10 cases of non-small cell lung cancer. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy may also be used to slow the progress of the disease and to manage symptoms.

Stage	Treatment options
Stage 0(cancer is limited to the lung and is found in a few layers of cells only)	Surgery to remove a small portion of the lung where the cancer cells are found Photodynamic therapy
Stage 1 (cancer is found in the lung only)	Surgery to remove a small portion of the lung or lobe of the lung Radiation therapy Clinical trials of chemotherapy following surgery Clinical trials of photodynamic therapy
Stage II(cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or to nearby tissues)	Surgery alone Radiation therapy alone Chemotherapy combined with other treatments Surgery combined with radiotherapy Clinical trials of combined treatments
Stage IIIA (cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the tracheal wall, including the chest wall and diaphragm)	Surgery alone Radiation therapy alone Chemotherapy combined with other treatments Surgery combined with radiotherapy Clinical trials of combined treatments Clinical trials of new treatments
Stage IIIB (cancer has spread to the lymph nodes on the opposite side of the chest or in the lower neck)	Radiation therapy alone Chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy Chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy followed by surgery Chemotherapy alone Clinical trials of combined treatments Clinical trials of new treatments
Stage IV (cancer has spread to other parts of the body)	Radiation therapy, for relief of pain and other symptoms Chemotherapy Laser therapy and/or internal radiation therapy Clinical trials of chemotherapy Clinical trials of new treatments
Recurrent (cancer that has come back after it has been treated)	Radiation therapy, for relief of pain and other symptoms Chemotherapy alone Surgery Laser therapy, photodynamic therapy and/or internal radiation therapy Radiosurgery Clinical trials of new treatments

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