Treatment of Lung Cancer

Treatment of lung cancer is depends on the cell type, stage of disease, possibility for removing the tumor, and the patient's general medical condition. Options for treatment of lung cancer are include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or as well as combinations of these methods. For some patients, participation in a clinical trial is another option.

The most important factors are the histopathologic (diseased tissue) type of tumor that is present and its stage, Once a lung cancer has been staged, the physician and patient can discuss treatment options.

Treatment of Lung Cancer by Surgery

Surgery is the only treatment that generally performed for limited-stage (stage I or sometimes stage II) Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Surgery is indicated for disease that has not spread beyond the lung. Lung Cancer cases about 10%-35% can be removed surgically, but removal does not always result in a cure, since the tumors may already have spread and can recur at a later time.

Patients who diagnosed as lung cancer and they have other medical problems may not fit enough to have surgery, Radiotherapy may be given to the lung cancer instead. Surgery for non-small cell lung cancer can take several forms such as Mediastinoscopy, Thoracoscopy, Wedge resection, Segmentectomy, Lobectomy, Sleeve resection and Pneumonectomy.

Treatment of Lung Cancer by Radiation Therapy

Radiotherapy is known as radiation therapy, this is a treatment method for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) that uses high-energy, ionizing radiation {cobalt (60Co), radium (228Ra), iodine (131I), radon (221Rn), cesium (137Cs), phosphorus (32P), gold (198Au), iridium (192Ir), and yttrium (90Y)} to kill cancer cells.

Radiotherapy is used before surgery to shrink a tumor, or after surgery to destroy remaining cancer cells and also used instead of surgery procedure to relieve symptoms such as shortness of breath. Radiotherapy may also be used very effectively to relieve symptoms, such as pain, in people with advanced SCLC. Some medical procedure may they do the radiotherapy and chemotherapy at the same time; this is known as chemoradiation.

Treatment of Lung Cancer by Chemotherapy

Lung cancer cases, NSCLC and SCLC may be treated with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy refers to the administration of drugs that stop the growth of cancer cells by killing them or preventing them from dividing. These kind of therapy that used some medications whether by mouth or by intravenous solution depending on which drugs are given. The medicines are prescribed by a medical oncologist, The doctors who specializes in treating cancer with medication.

Chemotherapy may be given alone, as an adjuvant to surgical therapy, or in combination with radiotherapy. Chemotherapy may help radiation to be more effective. The doctor will work with patients to decide the best approach. An experimental drug given in a clinical trial may also be an option.

Treatment of Lung Cancer by Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a new therapy method for the cancers that used for different types and stages of lung cancer (as well as some other cancers). These is an effective treatment to the lung cancer disease, In early cases the treatment can eliminate the cancer and in more advanced cases the photodynamic therapy has used to palliate symptoms that result from blockage of the bronchial tubes.

PDT treatment is useful for the care of persons with inoperable lung cancer {tumors are occult (hidden, unseen) on chest x-ray}. In photodynamic treatment, a photosynthesizing agent (such as a porphyrin, a naturally occurring substance in the body) is injected into the bloodstream a few hours prior to surgery.