Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy (chemo) is a type of treatment that may be used to treat certain types of NSCLC, depending on stage and other factors, and is given into a vein (IV) as an injection over a few minutes or as an infusion over a longer period of time. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is chemo that’s given before surgery, to try and shrink a tumor. Adjuvant chemotherapy is chemo that’s given after the primary treatment, such as surgery, to try and destroy any remaining cancer cells and lower the risk of recurrence. Chemo and radiation therapy may be recommended in advanced cancers, where the cancer has spread to nearby structures and surgery is not an option. Chemo may also be given if cancer has spread to areas outside the lungs (Stage IV), such as the bones, liver, or adrenal gland.