The treatment of cancer is challenging because several factors influence the treatment plan. Apart from the patient’s general health condition, type of cancer, stage of cancer, the doctor needs to consider the side effect burden of the treatment. Therefore, patient’s or family member’s preference is crucial as many of them prefer to proceed symptomatic relief like relieving from pain and shortness of breath instead of treating cancer. Therefore, a thorough consultation with lung cancer specialist before making the decision is the utmost need for cancer treatment.
Surgery
Different surgical procedures are available to remove the lung cancer cell. Surgeon suggest for surgeries depending upon the location:
- Wedge resection is a procedure of surgical removal of lung tumor by removing a small section of the lung containing tumor cell along with marginal tissue.
- Segmental resection is the process of removing a wide portion of the lung without removing the complete lobe.
- Lobectomy is the surgical complete removal of one lung lobe.
- Pneumonectomy is the surgical intervention to remove an entire lung.
Surgery is usually
recommended if the location of the cancer is restricted to the lung only. But the doctor
recommends chemotherapy before surgical intervention if cancer spread to a larger area in the lung tissue and spread to adjacent areas. Chemotherapy helps
to shrink the cancer cell, which helps to remove the entire cancerous growth. In the case of cancer cells remain in the body, the chance of recurrence is high.
Therefore, in most cases, surgery is combined with chemotherapy or
radiation therapy for better treatment outcomes. In lung cancer surgery, doctors
often remove the lymph nodes present in the chest cavity for complete removal
of cancer.
Radiation
therapy
In radiation therapy, the patient
lies down on the table and a high-energy beam containing a machine precisely releases
the radiation of X-rays and protons to kill the cell. In advanced staged lung
cancer locally restricted require radiation before or after surgical
intervention for better management. Radiation therapy also uses for pain
relievers in case of cancer spread to the adjacent areas.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is systemically acted to kill the cancer cell. Both oral and intravenous injectables are the mode of
administration of different chemotherapy. Weeks or months are continued to
give chemotherapy and then gives a break for a certain period for recovery. And
if required, chemotherapy restarts again. Chemotherapy is also recommended before
or after surgical intervention for better cancer management. Chemotherapy is
combinedly recommended with radiation therapy for certain types of lung
cancer. Chemotherapy is also prescribed
for symptomatic relief from cancer chemotherapy.
Stereotactic body
radiotherapy
Stereotactic body radiotherapy
is recommended for treating small lung cancer that cannot be removed through
surgical intervention. In this treatment process, many beams of intense
radiation targeted the cancer cell for the removal of the cancer tissue. Therefore,
Stereotactic body radiotherapy is also named radiosurgery. This technique is
also useful for lung cancer spreading to the brain tissue also.
Targeted drug therapy
Targeted drug treatments are usually
recommended for treating lung cancer to block abnormal cancer growth. Target
drug therapy is usually reserved for advanced staged or recurrent cancer therapy. This
type of treatment is also offered for lung cancer having a tendency of genetic
mutation.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy modulates the immune
functioning of the body to fight against cancer cells. This treatment is
preferable for locally developed advanced-stage lung cancer. Even lung
cancer spread to another body part can also be treated with immunotherapy.
Palliative care
