A 65 yo man with a 40 pack year history of tobacco abuse und…
A 65 yo man with a 40 pack year history of tobacco abuse undergoes a chest X-ray as part of an evaluation for cough, which suggests a right middle lobe nodule. He has no other significant complaints. A PET-CT reveals a 2 cm nodule, with no other evidence of disease. CT-guided needle biopsy reveals squamous cell carcinoma. The patient’s exam and pulmonary function testing is within normal limits. You inform the patient he has early stage non-small cell lung cancer. When you counsel the patient on treatment, which of the following statements regarding early stage non-small cell lung cancer is the most appropriate?