How is lung cancer treated?

 Lung cancer has wreaked havoc in many lives around the world. But with the advent of modern treatment, the chances of survival have improved drastically.

The 5-year survival rate for all people with all types of lung cancer is 19%. For women, it is 23%, and for men, it is 19%. Out of the two types of lung cancer, the 5-year survival rate for NSCLC is 24%, compared to 6% for small cell lung cancer.

The treatment options for lung cancer are many. The best treatment option for a patient is determined by the lung cancer doctor in-charge keeping the type, stage, and treatment goals in mind.

Not only that but a mix of different treatments may also be advised depending on the type of lung cancer.

The treatment plan has to be created and agreed upon by a cancer specialist and a patient. An informed decision is important because each treatment option has potential side effects, which can be managed. Get more information about the side effects of lung cancer treatment.

So, if you're a cancer patient, the best way for you to approach treatment is to consult a top specialist like Dr. Manish Singhal, the best lung cancer doctor in Delhi NCR.

Lung cancer treatments

There are two main types of lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer.

Many tests are performed to determine what type of lung cancer it is, what stage it is in, where it has spread, etc.

Not only that, but post lung cancer diagnosis, the cancer doctor may run tests like EGFR to find out if there is any change in the genes of the patient. This is mostly done in non-small cell lung cancer. The results of these tests help your doctor know which treatments will work best for you.

Here are the treatment options:

• Surgery

Surgery can be an option if the cancer is confined to the lungs. For a largely spread lung cancer, cancer doctors may recommend chemotherapy or radiation before surgery to shrink the cancer. Also, if there is a risk of cancer cells being left behind post-surgery, doctors can also recommend chemotherapy or radiation therapy after surgery.

The procedures include:

1. Wedge Resection-It removes a small section of the lung that contains the tumor along with a margin of healthy tissue.

2. Segmental Resection-It removes a larger portion of the lung but not an entire lobe.

3. Lobectomy-It removes the entire lobe of one lung.

4. Pneumonectomy-It removes an entire lung

• Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.

It is often used for people with locally advanced lung cancer before or after surgery. It is also combined with chemotherapy therapy sometimes; becoming a primary treatment option along with chemotherapy if surgery is not a viable option. Not only that but for advanced lung cancers that have already spread to other areas of the body, radiation therapy helps relieve symptoms like pain.

• Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses specialized drugs to shrink or kill cancer cells. The drugs can be administered through the veins, orally, or through both. A combination of chemotherapy drugs is given in a series of treatments over weeks or months, with breaks in-between so patients can recover.

In people with advanced lung cancer, chemotherapy can also be used to relieve pain and other symptoms.

• Targeted Therapy

There are several targeted lung cancer treatments. Targeted treatments focus on unique abnormalities present within cancer cells. By remedying these abnormalities, targeted drug treatments specifically attack cancer cells while sparing healthy cells.

Certain targeted therapies only work in people who have cancer cells with specific genetic mutations. To ascertain whether the patient has the said genetic mutations the cancer cells may be tested.

The testing is important; ask a trusted oncologist in Noida or wherever you live about the testing before choosing targeted therapy.

• Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses the patient's immune system against the cancer cells.

The body's immune system, which is designed to fight diseases, does not attack the cancer cells because the cells produce proteins that hide them from the immune system. Immunotherapy interferes with the process and allows the immune system to recognize & destroy cancer cells.

There are several more treatments and treatment adjacents, including palliative care to improve quality of life, clinical trial participation for better outcomes, coping with symptoms, alternative medicines, etc.

In conclusion

The treatment a patient receives is entirely dependent on the type of lung cancer, the stage, the spread, and most importantly, the cancer doctor. If you're a lung cancer patient, whether you're newly diagnosed or looking for a second opinion, you can always consult an expert in the area like Dr. Manish Singhal, a cancer specialist in Delhi NCR.

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