Chemotherapy treatment aims to kill fast-growing and dividing cells, like cancer cells. It can be used alone or with other lung cancer treatments.

While chemotherapy can be very effective on cancer cells, it can also affect some types of healthy cells, which can lead to side effects. These side effects can vary depending on which chemotherapy drugs you receive, your dose, and how long you receive them.  

When used with other lung cancer treatments, chemotherapy can increase the success of treatment. The kind(s) of chemotherapy your healthcare team recommends will be based on the type of lung cancer you have, the stage, your overall health, your goals of treatment, and your preference. Understanding how lung cancer chemotherapy works and what to expect can help you prepare and make informed choices about your care.

Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that kills cells in the body that are fast-growing or divide and multiply quickly, like cancer cells. It is approved for all stages of lung cancer and is usually given through an IV (a small tube inserted in a vein) or a port (a permanent IV placed under the skin near the collarbone). A port allows easy access to the bloodstream and protects the veins in your arms. 

Chemotherapy is given in cycles followed by a rest period to allow your body time to recover. Treatments are given at a hospital, cancer center, or infusion center.  

Chemotherapy is known as a systemic treatment because it travels in the bloodstream. Systemic treatments work in the lung where the cancer started and throughout the body where it may have spread. In most cases, chemotherapy is unable to cross into the brain to treat cancer that may have spread there. However, other treatment options can be used to treat cancer that has spread to the brain. 

Chemotherapy is a very important type of lung cancer treatment. It can be the only treatment used, it can be used before or after another treatment, or it can be used at the same time as other treatments. Chemotherapy uses include: 

• Neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Treatment with chemotherapy that is used before another treatment. In lung cancer, it is typically used to try to shrink the tumor so that surgery is possible.  ‍
• Adjuvant chemotherapy: Treatment with chemotherapy that is used after another treatment. In lung cancer, it is typically used with the goal of eliminating any cancer cells that remain after surgery.  ‍
• Maintenance chemotherapy: Treatment with chemotherapy that is continued after the usual 4-6 cycles.   ‍
• Combination therapy: Treatment with more than one type of cancer therapy at the same time to increase overall effectiveness.   ‍
• Chemotherapy regimen: Treatment with more than one chemotherapy drug at the same time. 

There are a wide range of NSCLC chemotherapy drugs available. Your healthcare team will help guide your decision-making around which chemotherapy drug(s) or combined therapy is best for you.  

Chemotherapy drugs commonly used for NSCLC include: 

• Paraplatin (carboplatin)  
• Platinol (cisplatin)  
• Taxol (paclitaxel)  
• Abraxane (protein-bound paclitaxel) 
• Taxotere (docetaxel)  
• Alimta (pemetrexed disodium)  
• Gemzar (gemcitabine hydrochloride)  
• Navelbine (vinorelbine tartrate)  
• Trexall (methotrexate sodium) 
• Adriamycin (doxorubicin hydrochloride) 

When can chemotherapy be used in NSCLC? 

Chemotherapy may be used in any stage of NSCLC except stage 1A (IA). Some oncologists don’t recommend chemotherapy after surgery for stage 1B (IB) NSCLC. Be sure to ask about the risks and benefits of all treatments to make an informed decision about your care.