September 30, 2012

Treating Lung Cancer


Once we know the existence signs cancer or cancer symptoms, immediately take action by conducting cancer treatment. Lung cancer treatment can involve surgical removal of the tumor, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, as well as combinations of these methods. The decision about which treatment would be appropriate for a given individual should consider the location and extent of the tumor as well as overall health status of patients.


As with other cancers, therapy may be prescribed with the aim of curing (removal or eradication of a cancer) or relieve / ease (the actions that are not able to cure a cancer but can reduce the pain / pain and suffering). More than one type of therapy may be prescribed. In such cases, therapy is added to magnify the effects of primary therapy is referred to as adjuvant therapy. An example of adjuvant therapy is chemotherapy or radiotherapy that is inserted after surgical removal of a tumor in order to ensure that all tumor cells have been eradicated.

Surgery: surgical removal of tumor is generally implemented to a limited degree (level I or level II sometimes) NSCLC and is the choice of cancer treatment that has not spread outside the lung. Approximately 10% -35% of lung cancers can be removed surgically, but the removal does not always result in a cure, because these tumors may have spread and may occur again at a later time. Among those who have an isolated lung cancers grow slowly and which has been raised, 25% -40% are still alive five years after diagnosis. The operation is not possible if the cancer is close to the trachea too or if the person has other serious conditions (such as heart disease or lung disease) that would limit their ability to tolerate an operation. Less frequently performed surgery in SCLC because these tumors are less likely located in one area can be removed.
The surgical procedure chosen depends on the size and location of the tumor. Surgeons have to open the chest wall and may perform a wedge resection of the lung (removal of a portion of one lobe), a lobectomy (removal of one lobe), or a pneumonectomy (removal of one entire lung). Sometimes lymph nodes in the area of ​​the lung are also removed (lymphadenectomy). Lung cancer surgery is a major surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia, hospital stay and follow-up care for weeks to months. After the surgical procedure, patients may experience difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, pain, and weakness. The risks of surgery include complications caused by bleeding, infection, and complications from general anesthesia.
Radiation: Radiation therapy may be done as a treatment for both NSCLC and SCLC. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells that divide / divide. Radiation therapy may be given as therapy to cure (curative therapy), therapy that relieves (palliative therapy) or as adjuvant therapy to surgery or chemotherapy. Radiation is given externally, by make use of a machine directs radiation at the cancer, or internally through the placement of radioactive elements in sealed boxes in the area of ​​the body where the tumor is located. Brachytherapy is a term used to describe the use of a small grain of radioactive meteri placed directly into the cancer into the airway or near the cancer. This is usually done through a bronchoscope. A type of external therapy called "gamma knife" is sometimes used to treat spots spread of cancer in a single brain. In this procedure, various radiation beam is focused on the tumor for a few minutes to several hours when the head is held in place by a rigid frame. Radiation therapy can be given if a person refuses surgery, if a tumor has spread to areas such as lymph nodes or trachea making surgical removal impossible, or if the person has other conditions that make them too sick to perform major surgery . Radiation therapy is generally only shrinks a tumor or restrict its growth when given as monotherapy, but at 10% -15% of the people that lead to remission and long-term palliation of cancer. Combining radiation therapy with chemotherapy could further improve the chances of survival when chemotherapy is given. External radiation therapy can generally be run on an outpatient basis where internal radiation therapy require a brief hospitalization. Someone who has a severe lung disease in addition to a lung cancer may not be able to receive radiotherapy to the lung.

For external radiation therapy, a process called simulation is necessary before the treatment. Using CT scans, computers, and precise measurements, a simulation to map the exact location where the radiation will be given, called the field of care. This process usually takes 30 minutes to two hours. External radiation treatment itself is generally done four or five days a week for several weeks.

Radiation therapy does not carry the risks of major surgery, but it can have side effects that are not fun, including fatigue and lack of energy. A reduced number of white cells (to make a person more susceptible to infection) and blood platelet levels are low (making it more difficult blood clotting) may also occur with radiation therapy. If the digestive organs are in the field of radiation exposure, patients may experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Radiation therapy may irritate the skin in the treated area, but the irritation is generally improves with time after treatment has finished.

Chemotherapy: Both NSCLC and SCLC may be treated with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy refers to the administration of drugs that stop the growth of cancer cells to eradicate them or prevent them from splitting / dividing. Chemotherapy may be given alone, as an adjuvant to surgical treatment, or in combination with radiotherapy. Where a number of chemotherapeutic drugs have been developed, the drugs are based on platinum has been the most effective in the treatment of lung cancer.

Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for most of the SCLC, because these tumors are generally widespread in the body when they are diagnosed. Only half of the people who have SCLC is still alive for four months without chemotherapy. With chemotherapy, their survival time increased from four to five times. Chemotherapy alone is not very effective in treating NSCLC, but when NSCLC has spread, it can prolong survival in many cases.

Chemotherapy may be given as pills, as an infusion intravenously, or as a combination of both. Chemotherapy treatments are usually given on an outpatient procedure. A combination of drugs given in a series of treatments, called cycles, through a period of weeks to months, with breaks between cycles. Unfortunately, the drugs used in chemotherapy also kills the cells that divide normally in the body, resulting in side effects that are not pleasant. Damage to blood cells can result in heightened sensitivity to infections and difficulties with blood clotting (bleeding or easy bruising). Other side effects include fatigue, weight loss, hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mouth sores. The side effects of chemotherapy vary according to the doses and combinations of drugs are used and may also vary from individual to individual. Drugs have been developed that can treat or prevent many of the side effects of chemotherapy. These side effects usually disappear during the healing phase of treatment or after its completion.
Prophylactic brain radiation: SCLC often spreads to the brain. Sometimes people with SCLC who respond well to treatment were treated with radiation therapy to the head to treat very early spread to the brain (called micrometastasis) are still not detected by CT or MRI scans and still not produce symptoms. Brain radiation therapy can cause problems of short-term memory, fatigue, nausea and other side effects.

Recurrence Treatment: Lung cancer returning after treatment with surgery, chemotherapy, and / or radiation therapy is called recurrence (recurrent or relapsed). If a recurrence of cancer is confined to one location in the lung, it may be treated with surgery. Relapsed tumors generally do not respond to chemotherapy drugs previously entered. Because the drugs commonly used platinum-based chemotherapy of early lung cancers, these drugs are not useful in most cases of recurrence. A type of chemotherapy that are referred to as second line chemotherapy used to treat recurrent cancers that have previously been treated with chemotherapy, and a number of ways the second line chemotherapy has been shown to be effective on the extension of survival. People with recurrent lung cancer is fairly well tolerated therapies are also good candidates for experimental therapies, including clinical trials.

Targeted therapy: An alternative to the standard chemotherapy drug erlotinib (Tarceva), which may be used in patients with NSCLC who are no longer responding to chemotherapy. He is what is called targeted drug ang (targeted drug), suau more drug specifically targeted / aimed at cancer cells, resulting in less damage to normal cells. Erlotinib targets a protein called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) which helps the cells to divide. This protein is found at levels abnormally high on the surface of some types of cancer cells, including many cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Erlotinib taken in pill form.

Other businesses in targeted therapy including drugs known as antiangiogenesis drugs, which block the development of new blood vessels within a tumor. Antiangiogenic drug bevacizumab (Avastin) has recently been found to prolong survival in advanced lung cancer when he was added to standard chemotherapy ways. Bevacizumab given intravenously every two to three weeks. However, since these medications may cause bleeding, it is not suitable for use in patients who are coughing blood, if lung cancer has spread to the brain, or in people who are receiving therapy prevents clotting (anticoagulation therapy, the blood-thinning medications ). Bevacizumab is also used in cases of squamous cell cancer, because it leads to bleeding from this type of lung cancer.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT): A newer therapies that are used for several types and levels of lung cancer (as well as some other cancers) is photodynamic therapy. In photodynamic treatment, a photosynthesizing elements (such as a porphyrin, an element that occurs naturally in the body) is injected into the bloodstream several hours before surgery. During this time, the element is placed himself selectively to cells that grow rapidly such as cancer cells. Then follow a procedure in which doctors use a beam with a specific wavelength through a hand-held wand directly to the site of the cancer and surrounding tissues. The energy of the beam element photosensitizing activate, causing the production of a toxin that destroys tumor cells. PDT has advantages which he may be right on target from the location of cancer, less invasive than surgery, and can be repeated at the same place if necessary. The weaknesses of PDT is that it is only useful in treating cancers that can be achieved by a light source and is not suitable for the treatment of cancers that broad / extensive. Research is ongoing to further determine the effectiveness of PDT in lung cancer.

Experimental therapies: Because there are no therapies available today that are absolutely effective in treating lung cancer, patients may be offered a number of new therapies that are still in trial, which means that doctors do not yet have enough information to decide whether the therapy -this therapy must be received forms to treat lung cancer. New drugs or new combinations of drugs are tested in so-called clinical trials, which are studies that evaluate the effectiveness of new treatments compared with treatments that have been used extensively. Experimental treatments, known as immunotherapies are being studied that involve the use of therapies associated with vaccines or other therapies that try to use the body's immune system to fight cancer cells.

Preventing far better than cure. For that, try to understand the signs cancer and cancer symptoms, before having to take further action through treatment or cure as outlined above. (*)
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Treating Lung Cancer


Once we know the existence signs cancer or cancer symptoms, immediately take action by conducting cancer treatment. Lung cancer treatment can involve surgical removal of the tumor, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, as well as combinations of these methods. The decision about which treatment would be appropriate for a given individual should consider the location and extent of the tumor as well as overall health status of patients.


As with other cancers, therapy may be prescribed with the aim of curing (removal or eradication of a cancer) or relieve / ease (the actions that are not able to cure a cancer but can reduce the pain / pain and suffering). More than one type of therapy may be prescribed. In such cases, therapy is added to magnify the effects of primary therapy is referred to as adjuvant therapy. An example of adjuvant therapy is chemotherapy or radiotherapy that is inserted after surgical removal of a tumor in order to ensure that all tumor cells have been eradicated.

Surgery: surgical removal of tumor is generally implemented to a limited degree (level I or level II sometimes) NSCLC and is the choice of cancer treatment that has not spread outside the lung. Approximately 10% -35% of lung cancers can be removed surgically, but the removal does not always result in a cure, because these tumors may have spread and may occur again at a later time. Among those who have an isolated lung cancers grow slowly and which has been raised, 25% -40% are still alive five years after diagnosis. The operation is not possible if the cancer is close to the trachea too or if the person has other serious conditions (such as heart disease or lung disease) that would limit their ability to tolerate an operation. Less frequently performed surgery in SCLC because these tumors are less likely located in one area can be removed.
The surgical procedure chosen depends on the size and location of the tumor. Surgeons have to open the chest wall and may perform a wedge resection of the lung (removal of a portion of one lobe), a lobectomy (removal of one lobe), or a pneumonectomy (removal of one entire lung). Sometimes lymph nodes in the area of ​​the lung are also removed (lymphadenectomy). Lung cancer surgery is a major surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia, hospital stay and follow-up care for weeks to months. After the surgical procedure, patients may experience difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, pain, and weakness. The risks of surgery include complications caused by bleeding, infection, and complications from general anesthesia.
Radiation: Radiation therapy may be done as a treatment for both NSCLC and SCLC. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells that divide / divide. Radiation therapy may be given as therapy to cure (curative therapy), therapy that relieves (palliative therapy) or as adjuvant therapy to surgery or chemotherapy. Radiation is given externally, by make use of a machine directs radiation at the cancer, or internally through the placement of radioactive elements in sealed boxes in the area of ​​the body where the tumor is located. Brachytherapy is a term used to describe the use of a small grain of radioactive meteri placed directly into the cancer into the airway or near the cancer. This is usually done through a bronchoscope. A type of external therapy called "gamma knife" is sometimes used to treat spots spread of cancer in a single brain. In this procedure, various radiation beam is focused on the tumor for a few minutes to several hours when the head is held in place by a rigid frame. Radiation therapy can be given if a person refuses surgery, if a tumor has spread to areas such as lymph nodes or trachea making surgical removal impossible, or if the person has other conditions that make them too sick to perform major surgery . Radiation therapy is generally only shrinks a tumor or restrict its growth when given as monotherapy, but at 10% -15% of the people that lead to remission and long-term palliation of cancer. Combining radiation therapy with chemotherapy could further improve the chances of survival when chemotherapy is given. External radiation therapy can generally be run on an outpatient basis where internal radiation therapy require a brief hospitalization. Someone who has a severe lung disease in addition to a lung cancer may not be able to receive radiotherapy to the lung.

For external radiation therapy, a process called simulation is necessary before the treatment. Using CT scans, computers, and precise measurements, a simulation to map the exact location where the radiation will be given, called the field of care. This process usually takes 30 minutes to two hours. External radiation treatment itself is generally done four or five days a week for several weeks.

Radiation therapy does not carry the risks of major surgery, but it can have side effects that are not fun, including fatigue and lack of energy. A reduced number of white cells (to make a person more susceptible to infection) and blood platelet levels are low (making it more difficult blood clotting) may also occur with radiation therapy. If the digestive organs are in the field of radiation exposure, patients may experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Radiation therapy may irritate the skin in the treated area, but the irritation is generally improves with time after treatment has finished.

Chemotherapy: Both NSCLC and SCLC may be treated with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy refers to the administration of drugs that stop the growth of cancer cells to eradicate them or prevent them from splitting / dividing. Chemotherapy may be given alone, as an adjuvant to surgical treatment, or in combination with radiotherapy. Where a number of chemotherapeutic drugs have been developed, the drugs are based on platinum has been the most effective in the treatment of lung cancer.

Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for most of the SCLC, because these tumors are generally widespread in the body when they are diagnosed. Only half of the people who have SCLC is still alive for four months without chemotherapy. With chemotherapy, their survival time increased from four to five times. Chemotherapy alone is not very effective in treating NSCLC, but when NSCLC has spread, it can prolong survival in many cases.

Chemotherapy may be given as pills, as an infusion intravenously, or as a combination of both. Chemotherapy treatments are usually given on an outpatient procedure. A combination of drugs given in a series of treatments, called cycles, through a period of weeks to months, with breaks between cycles. Unfortunately, the drugs used in chemotherapy also kills the cells that divide normally in the body, resulting in side effects that are not pleasant. Damage to blood cells can result in heightened sensitivity to infections and difficulties with blood clotting (bleeding or easy bruising). Other side effects include fatigue, weight loss, hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mouth sores. The side effects of chemotherapy vary according to the doses and combinations of drugs are used and may also vary from individual to individual. Drugs have been developed that can treat or prevent many of the side effects of chemotherapy. These side effects usually disappear during the healing phase of treatment or after its completion.
Prophylactic brain radiation: SCLC often spreads to the brain. Sometimes people with SCLC who respond well to treatment were treated with radiation therapy to the head to treat very early spread to the brain (called micrometastasis) are still not detected by CT or MRI scans and still not produce symptoms. Brain radiation therapy can cause problems of short-term memory, fatigue, nausea and other side effects.

Recurrence Treatment: Lung cancer returning after treatment with surgery, chemotherapy, and / or radiation therapy is called recurrence (recurrent or relapsed). If a recurrence of cancer is confined to one location in the lung, it may be treated with surgery. Relapsed tumors generally do not respond to chemotherapy drugs previously entered. Because the drugs commonly used platinum-based chemotherapy of early lung cancers, these drugs are not useful in most cases of recurrence. A type of chemotherapy that are referred to as second line chemotherapy used to treat recurrent cancers that have previously been treated with chemotherapy, and a number of ways the second line chemotherapy has been shown to be effective on the extension of survival. People with recurrent lung cancer is fairly well tolerated therapies are also good candidates for experimental therapies, including clinical trials.

Targeted therapy: An alternative to the standard chemotherapy drug erlotinib (Tarceva), which may be used in patients with NSCLC who are no longer responding to chemotherapy. He is what is called targeted drug ang (targeted drug), suau more drug specifically targeted / aimed at cancer cells, resulting in less damage to normal cells. Erlotinib targets a protein called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) which helps the cells to divide. This protein is found at levels abnormally high on the surface of some types of cancer cells, including many cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Erlotinib taken in pill form.

Other businesses in targeted therapy including drugs known as antiangiogenesis drugs, which block the development of new blood vessels within a tumor. Antiangiogenic drug bevacizumab (Avastin) has recently been found to prolong survival in advanced lung cancer when he was added to standard chemotherapy ways. Bevacizumab given intravenously every two to three weeks. However, since these medications may cause bleeding, it is not suitable for use in patients who are coughing blood, if lung cancer has spread to the brain, or in people who are receiving therapy prevents clotting (anticoagulation therapy, the blood-thinning medications ). Bevacizumab is also used in cases of squamous cell cancer, because it leads to bleeding from this type of lung cancer.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT): A newer therapies that are used for several types and levels of lung cancer (as well as some other cancers) is photodynamic therapy. In photodynamic treatment, a photosynthesizing elements (such as a porphyrin, an element that occurs naturally in the body) is injected into the bloodstream several hours before surgery. During this time, the element is placed himself selectively to cells that grow rapidly such as cancer cells. Then follow a procedure in which doctors use a beam with a specific wavelength through a hand-held wand directly to the site of the cancer and surrounding tissues. The energy of the beam element photosensitizing activate, causing the production of a toxin that destroys tumor cells. PDT has advantages which he may be right on target from the location of cancer, less invasive than surgery, and can be repeated at the same place if necessary. The weaknesses of PDT is that it is only useful in treating cancers that can be achieved by a light source and is not suitable for the treatment of cancers that broad / extensive. Research is ongoing to further determine the effectiveness of PDT in lung cancer.

Experimental therapies: Because there are no therapies available today that are absolutely effective in treating lung cancer, patients may be offered a number of new therapies that are still in trial, which means that doctors do not yet have enough information to decide whether the therapy -this therapy must be received forms to treat lung cancer. New drugs or new combinations of drugs are tested in so-called clinical trials, which are studies that evaluate the effectiveness of new treatments compared with treatments that have been used extensively. Experimental treatments, known as immunotherapies are being studied that involve the use of therapies associated with vaccines or other therapies that try to use the body's immune system to fight cancer cells.

Preventing far better than cure. For that, try to understand the signs cancer and cancer symptoms, before having to take further action through treatment or cure as outlined above. (*)