Related Experiment Videos
Non-small cell lung cancer: an overview of diagnosis, staging, and treatment
1Cancer Patient Education Program, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Objectives:
To review the current status, recent advances and ongoing research efforts related to screening, diagnosis and staging, and treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Data Sources:
Research studies, review articles, and abstracts relating to NSCLC.
Conclusions:
Surgery is curative in a small number of patients. Radiation therapy can often control local disease and palliate symptoms; however, it does not impact overall survival. Current chemotherapy regimens have demonstrated ability to prolong survival when compared to "best supportive care"; however, survival benefit is limited to a period of a few weeks or months.
Implications For Nursing Practice:
An understanding of treatment modalities and new therapies for NSCLC will help nurses assist patients to make educated decisions about the potential risks and benefits of their therapeutic options.