Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world.
With 2.1 million new cases in 2018 alone and 1.8 million deaths, it has affected the lives of many people.
Since then, it has affected many more lives.
Primarily, there are two main types of lung cancer-small-cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Out of the two, non-small cell lung cancer or NSCLC is the most common.
Cancer specialists take various approaches to treat lung cancer. The best-fitted approach depends on several factors, including the type and stage of lung cancer.
NSCLC is usually treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, or a combination of these therapies. Small cell lung cancer, on the other hand, is typically treated with radiation and chemotherapy.
The right treatment at the right time can mean life or death for a lung cancer patient. While lung cancer treatments have been proven to be highly successful, different treatments come with different side effects.
With the help of an experienced cancer doctor like Dr. Manish Singhal, offering top-notch lung cancer treatment in Delhi NCR, cancer patients can not only battle the disease but also learn about and cope with the side effects.
Here we will discuss the side effects of different types of lung cancer treatments.
Side effects of different lung cancer treatments in india
Though lung cancer treatments have been increasing the cure rate in many patients, even the best lung cancer doctor in Delhi NCR or anywhere else will agree there are some side effects associated with every treatment. Here’s looking at them.
Surgery
While surgery is not an option for all types of lung cancer, it is a viable option for some. Surgery primarily might come with two types of side effects:
Difficulty in breathing
Coping mechanism:
The best way to cope with breathing issues is to call your cancer doctor, ask for advice or medication, follow the instructions, try relaxation techniques, make lifestyle changes, and practice breathing exercises.
Chest Pain
For pain, your doctor will suggest pain medication, nerve blocks, or other management techniques.
Radiotherapy
With a 3-year survival rate of 74% for operable patients and 59% for medically inoperable patients, radiotherapy is often considered by cancer doctors. It’s side effects are:
Radiation pneumonitis
It is caused by inflammation of the lung caused by radiation. Symptoms can be cough, fever, or chest congestion.
Coping:
For most people symptoms of radiation pneumonitis clear out on their own, if not, cancer doctors often treat patients with severe symptoms with corticosteroids.
Esophagitis
Esophagitis related to radiotherapy causes inflammation, edema, erythema, and erosion of the mucosal surface of the esophagus. It can cause difficulty in swallowing or chest pain while eating.
Coping:
The symptoms generally clear out within a few weeks after completion of radiotherapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy has almost doubled the cure rate in some cases of lung cancer, even in later stages. Therefore, it is often one of the treatment options chosen by cancer specialists worldwide. However, it has side-effects. They are:
Hair Loss
Hair loss is a common side-effect of chemotherapy. Hair can often fall out in clumps or more gradually, varying from person to person going through chemotherapy.
Coping:
Doctors suggest wearing cooling caps, using mild shampoos, putting less stress on the hair, wearing a hat/scarf, or even wearing a wig.
Loss of blood count
Chemotherapy works by destroying cancer cells. Sometimes that might destroy healthy cells or even the bone marrow which produces blood cells.
Coping:
The blood count will go up if there is a break between chemos.
Decreased appetite
People may lose their appetite because of nausea, mouth/throat problems making it painful to eat, drugs that cause people to lose taste, or even depression. The appetite loss can last for a day, a few weeks, or even months.
Coping:
People can cope with it by eating small amounts frequently, scheduling meal times, eating when they're hungry, limiting fluid intake during meals, making meals more appealing, or even avoiding smells or tastes they do not like.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy, either alone or in combination with other treatments, has demonstrated significant patient improvement. So, it is suggested by many cancer specialists.
It’s side-effects are:
Auto-immune diseases
It is one of the safest treatments for lung cancer. However, it can cause auto-immune disease affecting any organ, including but not limited to the brain, lungs, large intestine, liver, or kidneys, in some patients, although that is a rare occurrence (1 in 20).
Coping:
This is a very rare occurrence but can be treated based on the auto-immune disease.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is also a very safe approach for treating lung cancer because while it does block cancer cells, it doesn't damage normal cells vastly. However, 10% of patients may suffer from some side-effects.
It’s side-effects are:
Skin Rash
Rashes due to targeted therapy are rarely severe and most of the time clear out on their own. However, for severe cases, people can always choose a coping mechanism that suits them.
Coping:
To cope with skin rashes, avoid the sun, use mild soap, use SPF, use moisturizer, ask the doctor for help.
Lung disease/ difficulty breathing
Breathing difficulty or lung disease is very rare with targeted therapy but it might occur.
Coping:
Cancer patients should consult with their cancer specialist to cope with this side-effect.
Defeating lung cancer-side-effects and all
Living with and getting treated for lung cancer can be a life-altering experience. Everybody is different, every cancer patient doesn't have the same story, but with the right treatment, whether they experience one side-effect or the other, they can conquer lung cancer. If you or your loved one is dealing with lung cancer or side-effects due to lung cancer treatment and you need more information or help, you can always consult a top cancer doctor, like Dr. Manish Singhal, the best oncologist in Delhi.
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