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The treatment options for patients with recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in whom the cancer recurs after initial treatment includes palliative radiation therapy or chemotherapy alone. Patients with recurrent non-small cell lung cancer who have not received chemotherapy previously usually receive platinum-based combination chemotherapy with cisplatin plus another drug such as vinorelbine, paclitaxel, or gemcitabine. Treatment options for patients with recurrent non-small cell lung cancer who previously have received platinum-based chemotherapy include:

• Docetaxel (Taxotere)
• Pemetrexed (Alimta)
• Gefitinib (Iressa)

Patients with recurrent non-small cell lung cancer that has spread to the brain are usually treated with surgery to remove the brain tumor followed by postoperative whole-brain irradiation to kill residual cancer cells. If the brain tumor cannot be surgically removed, conventional whole-brain irradiation is used in an attempt to shrink the tumor. A newer type of radiation therapy called stereotactic radiosurgery (e.g., Cyberknife) can deliver radiation precisely to the affected area without causing the morbidity associated with radiation to the entire head.

Many patients with recurrent NSCLC are eligible for clinical trials and may wish to discuss the potential risks and benefits of this option with their oncologist.