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Lung cancer treatment: drugs, side effects and support

Lung cancer treatment depends on the type (non-small cell or small cell), the stage and biomarker test results. Many people get immunotherapy, targeted pills, chemo or a mix.

Drugs

Regimens

• Carboplatin + paclitaxel (carbo/taxol)
• Carboplatin + pemetrexed + Keytruda

Common side effects

• Appetite and taste changes
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
• Hair loss from chemo
• Low blood counts and infection risk (neutropenia)
• Mouth sores (mucositis)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Neuropathy (numbness and tingling)
• Skin rash and skin changes

Support groups for lung cancer

• LUNGevity: Patient education, support groups and survivorship programs
• GO2 for Lung Cancer: Helpline, biomarker testing support and navigation
• CancerCare: Free counseling, support groups and financial help
• Cancer Support Community: Support groups, a helpline and the MyLifeLine online community
• Imerman Angels: Free one-on-one matching with a survivor or caregiver mentor

🗣 Patient voices (lung cancer)

• Watch: Lung Cancer Survivor - George's Story | Temple Lung Center (Temple Health)
• Watch: Jaymie Knox: Why I Keep Sharing My Lung Cancer Story (Lung Cancer Foundation of America)
• Watch: Christopher's Story: Lung Cancer Survivor (Riverside Health)

Real people sharing their own experiences on YouTube. Everyone's treatment is different; talk with your care team about yours.

Help paying

Start with our cost-help guide. Each drug page links its official program.

Written by the Cancer Side Effects Guide team from FDA labels and leading cancer centers. Not medical advice. · Last updated: October 15, 2026 · How we write