treatment of lung cancer

The cancer treatment plan is dependent on several factors, such as a person’s overall health, the type and stage of cancer, and individual preferences. The available treatment options are conservative or surgical as follows:

Surgery: Lung cancer and a margin of healthy tissue are removed during the surgical procedure in one of the following ways:

• Lobectomy: Surgical removal of the affected lobe of the lung
• Pneumonectomy: Surgical removal of entire lung
• Segmental resection: Surgical removal of a substantial portion, but usually less than the lobe from the lung
• Wedge resection: Surgical removal of a small part of the lung including the cancerous part and some adjacent healthy tissue

Sometimes the surgeon may also remove lymph nodes from a person’s chest to observe them for signs of cancer.

Surgery is usually considered in cases where the cancer is confined to the lungs. In cases where the lung cancer spreads to faraway tissues or the extent of the cancer is larger chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be recommended before the surgery. This procedure helps in reducing the size of cancer by shrinkage. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy may also be recommended after the surgery if it is suspected that the cancer cells have been left behind after the surgery or if the recurrence of cancer is suspected.

Radiation therapy: This procedure makes use of high-powered energy beams from sources such as X-rays and protons for destroying the cancer cells. In cases of locally advanced lung cancer, radiation may be recommended before or after surgery. It is also combined with chemotherapy in cases where surgery is not feasible or where the cancer is advanced to farther tissues.

Chemotherapy: Drugs are used to destroy cancer cells in chemotherapy. It may consist of a single drug or more drugs in a combination that may be administered intravenously, or they are taken orally. Chemotherapy is given in cycles over a period of weeks or months, with or without radiotherapy. Breaks in between consecutive cycles are given to allow recovery.

Radiosurgery or Stereotactic body radiotherapy: It is an intense radiation treatment in which the cancer cells are targeted to be destroyed with many beams of radiation from different angles. It is completed in one or more cycles. It is often recommended for persons who cannot undergo surgery or for the treatment of lung cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, including the brain.

Targeted drug therapy: Specific abnormalities present within cancer cells are targeted by the therapeutic agent or drug being used. The cancer cells are destroyed by blocking such abnormalities. Sometimes only persons with specific gene mutations may be responsive to targeted therapies. Such persons are identified after laboratory testing of their genetic material before treatment is initiated.

Immunotherapy: The body’s inherent defense capability or immune system is made use to fight cancer. Cancer cells produce proteins that blind the immune system cells. As a result, the person’s immune system does not recognize and fight the cancer cells. Immunotherapy evokes the body’s response by interfering with that process.

Palliative care: Supportive or palliative care involves a multidisciplinary team working with a doctor to minimize the signs and symptoms of the disease and improve a person’s quality of life.

⇒ Oncology rehabilitation: A wide range of therapies that are designed as per the needs of a person help in building strength and endurance, reducing stress and maintaining normal energy levels and regaining independence to carry out important daily living activities that constitute oncology rehabilitation.

Some of the rehabilitation therapies are:

• Physical therapy: Physical therapists help a person design personalized exercise programs that are a mix of range-of-motion training with light resistance exercises. Physical activity helps in overcoming fatigue and improving physical function and overall well-being.
• Occupational therapy: Occupational therapists help a person design a personalized plan to continue with their important daily living activities such as dressing, showering, and eating to maintain a good quality of life.
• Speech and language therapy: Many times, persons with cancer may have adverse effects on their speech and language. Speech and language therapists help a person address complications that may affect their speech, cognitive and language abilities like dryness of mouth, difficulty in swallowing, loss of voice, etc.
• Manual therapy: Massage therapy techniques may be considered to overcome cancer-related pain and improve a person’s quality of life during cancer treatment.

⇒ Nutrition support: Many cancer patients undergo poor gastrointestinal experience symptoms. A nutritional support team should work with persons with lung cancer to help

• Restore digestive health
• Prevent malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies, during treatment.

It is extremely important to stay physically strong and nourished to continue with intense cancer treatment. A dietitian may be required to conduct a comprehensive nutritional assessment and determine daily goals for calories and protein, and micronutrients like vitamins and minerals.