Battling Lung Cancer: Treatment Options

Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent cancer types in the world today. Current estimates from the American Cancer Society reveal that there will be about 221,200 new cases of lung cancer in 2015. More so, lung cancer cause 27% of cancer-related deaths, and it has a higher mortality rate that colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. But the good news is, being diagnosed with lung cancer is not a death sentence. There are different treatment options available today that may result into cure or at the very least, allow you to live a good quality of life despite the disease. Depending on the type of lung cancer you have and the stage it is in, your doctor will recommend any of these treatments.

Surgery

Surgery is the process of removing lung cancer. Depending on how advanced and spread out the cancer is, this may involve taking out a small or large section of the lung, an entire lobe, or the lung itself. Surgery may also be used to remove lymph nodes in the chest, so that they can be tested for cancer. Surgery can result to shortness of breath, but breathing gradually returns to normal or becomes easier once the lung tissues expanded again.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is done to kill cancer cells. It can be administered intravenously or orally. This treatment may go on for weeks and months, and is usually done with intervals to help the patient regain strength and recover from side effects. Depending on the case, chemotherapy can be done before or after the surgery. Typically, this treatment is recommended prior to surgery in order to shrink the cancer and make it easier to remove. Meanwhile, it may be part of post-surgery treatment in order to kill any residual cancer cells. rnChemotherapy can also help relieve pain and other symptoms for cancer cases that are already in advanced stages.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy beams to kill cancer cells. It can be administered through external beam radiation, brachytherapy, or stereotactic body radiotherapy. External beam therapy, as the name suggests, is the use of radiation from outside the patient’s body. But even if it’s done externally, the beams are directed at the cancer. Brachytherapy, on the other hand, is the use of needles, seeds, and catheters to administer radiation. These medical tools are placed inside the patient’s body. Stereotactic body radiotherapy involves the use of very high doses of radiation. It is usually recommended for patients who can’t undergo surgery or for tumors that have spread to the brain. Just like chemotherapy, radiation therapy can help residual cancer after surgery and relieve pain and other symptoms.

Targeted Drug Therapy

Targeted drug therapy is a fairly new method of treating lung cancer and typically goes side by side with chemotherapy drugs. This type of treatment is tailored to battle specific abnormalities in cancer cells or for those cancers that have a certain genetic mutation. Before a doctor prescribes this treatment, testing of your cancer cells will be recommended to determine whether this treatment is suitable for your condition or not.

Clinical Trials

If you’re not responding to treatments, you can consider signing up for clinical trials. Clinical trials are done to test new ways to treat cancer, diagnose the disease, prevent the condition, or manage symptoms and side effects. Clinical trials are known as experimental lung cancer treatment, and they may or may not result to a cure. However, it is worth considering if your cancer treatment options are limited. Before deciding to join a clinical trial, you need to be clear on the reason why you want to participate. Also, determine the eligibility requirements, the type and doses and drugs that will be administered, the methodology and frequency of medical tests, and the information you need to disclose. Basically, it will be the patient’s decision to join a clinical trial or not, but it’s best to consult your doctor first before you proceed.

Palliative Care

Palliative care doesn’t cure lung cancer per se, but it is provided alongside treatment and helps patients maintain a good quality of life while battling the disease. It is designed to help patients cope with the treatment better and go on with their daily routine as normal as possible. Palliative care acts like an additional support to the main cancer treatment, and a core team comprised of a doctor, nurse, and a palliative care specialist usually administers it. Other professionals such as therapists or nutritionists can also be part of the team, depending on the patient’s needs and preferences.

Dealing with Cancer Pain

Cancer pain can result from the cancer itself. Basically, this happens when tumors are pressing against nerves and other organs of the body. Meanwhile, pain can also result from the treatment that the patient undergoes. Pain from cancer can be managed through pain relievers and alternative treatments such as relaxation exercises and meditation. If you experience any pain, even if it’s just mild, you need to inform your doctor right away. The earlier it is addressed, the more effective pain management will be.

Alternative Treatment

Alternative lung cancer treatment helps patients with pain management and help relieve pain and side effects. Examples of complementary treatment for lung cancer patients are meditation, hypnosis, massage, acupuncture and yoga. These treatments will help you relax, breathe better, and manage pain. Your doctor can discuss the pros and cons of these treatments, and help determine which will work best for your situation.

Ask the Right Questions

When you’re diagnosed with lung cancer, you need to be proactive about your situation and ask the right questions. When discussing treatments for your condition, make sure your doctor can answer the following:

• What stage is my lung cancer in, and what does that exactly mean?
• Has the cancer spread to other parts of my body? If so, up to what extent?
• Do I have a chance at getting cured? What’s the survival rate for my case?
• What treatments are available to me?
• What is the goal of my treatment? Is it to cure or simply to manage symptoms?
• Am I fit to participate in clinical trials?

Fighting lung cancer is a battle that you can win. In fact, many people around the world have done so. It’s just a matter of getting proper treatment and learning what your options are.