Question: A small 2 cm nodule was recently found in my lung and I had an upper lobectomy. The surgeon said the margins were clear and there was no cancer found in the lymph nodes. They said the stage is IA (1A) and scheduled me for a scan in six months. Should I have had another treatment like chemotherapy after the surgery?

Answer: Current treatment guidelines for lung cancer do not recommend chemotherapy or other treatments besides surgery for stage IA lung cancer. These guidelines are based on research that has shown that more treatment after surgery for stage IA lung cancer is generally not helpful.

After surgery for IB and higher-staged lung cancer, additional treatment (called adjuvant treatment) may be recommended. Those treatment suggestions are based on what is found during the surgery, what the pathologist finds in the tumor’s tissue, and the results of biomarker testing. Recommended adjuvant treatment may be chemotherapy or targeted therapy.

The most widely used treatment guidelines are those developed by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). They offer patient versions of their lung cancer guidelines where you can read more about treatment options for lung cancer.

It is important to remember that every person diagnosed with lung cancer is different. Treatment guidelines are valuable but often leave specific recommendations up to your healthcare team. If you have questions about why your team is suggesting a certain treatment (or no further treatment), we encourage you to ask them to help you to understand. You can always consider getting another opinion that might give other options or confirm your team’s recommendations.

GO2 for Lung Cancer is here to help you to understand treatment guidelines and to help identify second opinion facilities. Please contact our HelpLine at 1-800-298-2436 or email us at support@go2.org.

Please note that the information included in any published answer is for educational pursuit only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult their healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Nothing from GO2 for Lung Cancer should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion.