New cancer antibodies and ADCs
Medicines approved in China that are not yet approved in Canada, the US or the EU, for selected lung cancers. We are confirming current hospital access.
Read more →← Conditions
Condition guide
Lung cancer treatment options in China
Lung cancer treatment has changed quickly with targeted drugs and immunotherapy. This page explains standard care at home and where treatment in China may add options for some patients.
About lung cancer
There are two main types. Non-small cell lung cancer is more common. Small cell lung cancer tends to grow faster and is treated differently.
The tumour's genetic features matter a great deal. Tests for changes such as EGFR, ALK and other markers help decide which drugs may work.
What standard care at home usually looks like
For early non-small cell cancer, surgery or precise radiation may offer long-term control. Chemotherapy, targeted drugs or immunotherapy may be given before or after. For later stages, treatment usually centres on targeted therapy for tumours with a matching gene change, or immunotherapy with or without chemotherapy.
Small cell lung cancer is usually treated with chemotherapy and radiation, often with immunotherapy. Palliative care and clinical trials are available at any stage.
Options in China that may be relevant
Microwave and radiofrequency ablation
Heat treatment for selected small lung tumours or spread to the lung, when surgery is not suitable.
Read more →Iodine-125 seed implantation
Radioactive seeds placed in or next to a lung tumour under imaging guidance.
Read more →Cancer hyperthermia
Heating used together with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Not a stand-alone treatment.
Read more →Cryo-thermal ablation
We are still confirming which Chinese hospitals offer it to international patients. Evidence is limited.
Read more →Second opinions
Expert review of your scans, pathology and genetic results.
Read more →Who might consider looking abroad
The strongest reason is a tumour whose standard drugs have stopped working, when a medicine approved in China might match your tumour's markers. Others want a second view on whether a local treatment such as ablation could be added.
A new drug approved in China is not automatically better. Regulators in Canada, the US and Europe may not have reviewed it, and some drugs have side effects that need close monitoring. Your oncologist should help weigh the evidence.
Who should not travel, or should wait
- People who need oxygen at rest or have worsening breathlessness
- People with a recent blood clot, a collapsed lung or fluid around the lung that is not controlled
- People who have not had full biomarker testing at home
- People whose doctors advise against long flights
- Anyone planning to stop an effective current treatment
Records to gather
- Pathology report and full biomarker or genetic testing results
- CT, PET and brain MRI reports with images on disc
- List of every treatment given, with dates and response
- Recent blood tests and breathing (lung function) tests
- Current medicines and allergies
- A summary letter from your oncologist
Prepare and send your records
Send records securely
Upload your reports and scans for specialist review.
Read more →Medical records guide
How to request your records and images.
Read more →Bringing medicines to China
What you may carry and what to confirm first.
Read more →Frequently asked questions
Why would a drug be approved in China before Canada?
Regulators work on their own timelines, and some drugs are developed by Chinese companies and tested first in China. Approval in China does not mean it has been compared with the standard drug at home.
Do I need a genetic test first?
Yes, in most cases. Targeted drugs depend on the tumour's markers, so a full report speeds up review.
Can I take the drug home afterwards?
Often not simply. Importing unapproved medicines has legal limits, and ongoing supply can be difficult. We help you plan this before you commit. See our medicines guide.
Can I continue care with my own oncologist?
Yes, and we encourage it. Your team can receive the reports and handle monitoring at home.
Do not delay or stop standard treatment. Lung cancer may change quickly, and your oncologist should know about any plan. Licensed doctors decide on treatment; we coordinate and do not promise outcomes.
Related pages
Sources: Canadian Cancer Society, Treatments for non-small cell lung cancer · National Cancer Institute, Non-small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ)
Last reviewed: 12 November 2026. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Sino Health Link is an independent coordination service, not a hospital. We do not diagnose, prescribe or treat. Licensed doctors make all medical recommendations and decisions with you.