hree categories: squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, and large cell. Radiation is generally designed to attack cancer in a defined area, and is unlikely to provide a cure for metastasic cancer.
There are different chemotherapy regimens, each of which has statistically about a 20% chance of success. Some oncologists use cisplatin based chemotherapy, others vinorelbine, and some gemcitabine. Various combinations have been tested in clinical trials. No one knows the optimal mix, we only have rough statistics about success. It is conceivable that there are different rates of success within the lung cancer category.
I would go to another oncologist and discuss other types of chemotherapy. While the chance for success is not great, there is certainly a possibility of a short-term remission or reduction in tumor size. She might be eligible for certain clinical trials too. So while the outlook is bleak, to call it hopeless is an overstatement.
Note that some doctors shy away from additional chemotherapy for seriously ill patients for fear of legal liability if the chemo makes things worse. Regardless of the doctor's concerns, with a young woman like this, I would be as aggresive as possible in seeking treatment. To summarize, her options are:
1) Another type of chemotherapy, vinorelbine, gemcitabine.
2) Clinical trials using the drugs listed about or others.
3) New and somewhat experimental interferon or interleukin gene-based therapy, perhaps used in a clinical trial.


More questions: