Lung cancer continues to be one of the most common human cancers. The earlier it is diagnosed, the more treatment options are usually available. One of the main procedures used for patients is surgery, but this is not possible for all patients - some patients are found to have inoperable lung cancer.

Lung cancer is sometimes called inoperable when, for example, the tumour has grown around some important structures that could be damaged by surgery. Surgery may not be possible when the lesion has been found after a long time and the disease is very advanced. The type of lung cancer also determines whether surgery can be performed - usually surgery is not possible for small cell lung cancer. Surgical treatment may also be contraindicated if the patient is burdened with some chronic diseases with an unstable course.

It is fully understandable that people diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer feel very anxious. However, it is worth making it clear here that this term is not synonymous with terminal lung cancer - as there are treatments other than surgery. For those patients for whom surgery is not possible, chemotherapy or radiotherapy can be used, and immunotherapy is now also gaining increasing importance in the treatment of lung cancer.