Small cell lung cancer

After potentially curative treatment for lung cancer, patients should be followed regularly to assess for disease recurrence and treatment-related toxicity. For example, following radiation therapy, patients may develop pneumonitis. This is rarely lethal but may require treatment, and patients should be carefully monitored with pulmonary function testing. Chemotherapy can depress blood counts, leading to anemia (fatigue and dyspnea), thrombocytopenia (bleeding), and/or neutropenia (infection). Blood counts should be monitored until patients recover. A history and physical exam should be performed every 3 to 6 months for the first 2 years or so and annually thereafter. Imaging of the chest (by chest x-ray or computed tomography) can be performed as indicated. For patients with metastatic disease who have completed palliative chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, similar follow-up is recommended.