Surgery for Lung Cancer Surgery can be done to both diagnose and
treat lung cancer. In most cases, surgery is used if the cancer
is found in an early stage. You will need to prepare. Work with
your doctor to learn more about what to expect before, during,
and after surgery. A mediastinoscopy can provide a tissue sample
that’s used for staging (determining the extent of the cancer).
During this procedure, the doctor inserts a scope through a
small incision made in the neck. By looking through the scope,
he or she can see lymph nodes. Lymph nodes may be removed and
tested. If no cancer is found in them, you may have further
surgery (see below). If cancer has spread to the lymph nodes,
more surgery probably won’t be done because the chance of curing
it with surgery is very low. The type of surgical procedure done
to treat lung cancer will depend on the location and extent of
the cancer. The goal of surgery is to remove visible areas of
cancer. This often requires taking out all or part of a lung.
Wedge Resection