UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center

Chemotherapy, a medicine that is used to fight cancer, has the advantage of going throughout the body to treat all sites of the disease. It may be used before, with or after other lung cancer treatments, such as surgery or radiation.

Most patients with non-small cell lung cancer receive a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy. For patients with small cell cancer (a smaller percentage of people with the disease), chemotherapy is also a mainstay treatment. Chemotherapy can dramatically shrink these fast-growing tumors, sometimes in a matter of weeks. Immunotherapy is also added to chemotherapy in the treatment of small cell lung cancer.  

Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Therapy

When chemotherapy is used before surgery or radiation, this is called neoadjuvant therapy. For example, neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be used in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, specifically stage III disease. This type of treatment helps shrink the tumor before surgery or radiation, to increase the likelihood of successful treatment.

For patients with non-small cell lung cancer, chemotherapy is sometimes given after surgery or radiation to help prevent tumor recurrence. The goal is to kill any microscopic cancer cells that may be present in the body and to prevent cancer from returning.

The addition of immunotherapy to chemotherapy is being examined in clinical trials in both the neoadjuvant (before surgery) and adjuvant (after surgery) setting.  

Help for Advanced Cancer

If cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as in stage IV disease — also called metastatic lung cancer — chemotherapy is often added to immunotherapy as an option to prolong survival, reduce pain and other symptoms, and improve the patient’s quality of life.

metastatic cancer illustration

Treating Metastatic Cancer with Optimism and Hope

If you have been diagnosed with metastatic cancer, more therapies may be available to you than you think. Our cancer specialists are eager to help you understand all of your options.

Limited Metastatic Cancer Program

Convenient Locations for Cancer Care

Request an Appointment

We are currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries, leading to delayed response times. For faster assistance, please call 1-855-702-8222 to schedule your appointment.

If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.

For Referring Physicians

To refer a patient for lung cancer care, please call UCM Physician Connect at 1-800-824-2282

 

By submitting this form you acknowledge the risk of sending this information by email and agree not to hold the University of Chicago or University of Chicago Medical Center liable for any damages you may incur as a result of the transfer or use of this information. The use or transmittal of this form does not create a physician-contact relationship. More information regarding the confidentiality of this request can be found in our Privacy Policy.

* Indicates required field

By submitting this form you acknowledge the risk of sending this information by email and agree not to hold the University of Chicago or University of Chicago Medical Center liable for any damages you may incur as a result of the transfer or use of this information. The use or transmittal of this form does not create a physician-contact relationship. More information regarding the confidentiality of this request can be found in our Privacy Policy.