Lung Cancer Treatment Options

Cancer that begins in the lung tissues is known as lung cancer, which is broadly classified into two types, small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Out of these, small cell lung cancer is less common and it usually affects the heavy smokers, while non-small cell lung cancer is more common and it includes, squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma. Treatment for lung cancer basically depends on the type of cancer, its stage, as well as the age and overall health condition of the patient.

Causes and Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Smoking is identified as the most significant risk factor for developing lung cancer. Even exposure to secondhand smoke for a long time can considerably raise the risk of developing this cancer. Smoking or cigarette smoke directly damages the cells that line the lungs. In the initial stage, the damage can be repaired by the body, but with prolonged exposure, the damage is irreversible. However at times, people who do not smoke or who have not been exposed to secondhand smoke, too can develop this cancer.

Other than exposure to cigarette smoke, factors like, asbestos exposure, exposure to radon gas, lung diseases, excessive consumption of alcohol and a family history of lung cancer are identified as some other important risk factors of this disease. A cough that does not go away or changes in the pattern of cough in those who already have chronic cough, breathing problems, shortness of breath, hoarseness, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, constant chest pain, wheezing, coughing up blood and frequent episodes of pneumonia and bronchitis are some of its early signs. Other symptoms of this condition include, clubbing of the fingernails, headaches and bone pain.

How to Treat Lung Cancer?
As mentioned above, the treatment options depend on the type of cancer and its stage. Non small cell lung cancer can be treated with surgery, while small cell lung cancer responds well to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Other treatment options include, laser therapy, photodynamic therapy and targeted drug therapy.

Surgery
Surgery is considered as the best treatment option, if the cancer is in the early stage, i.e. it has not spread or metastasized. Surgery can be of four types, resection, sleeve resection, lobectomy and pneumonectomy. Resection involves the removal of a small part of the lung that contains the tumor, along with some healthy tissues. Sleeve resection involves the removal of a part of the bronchus. On the other hand, lobectomy refers to the removal of an entire lobe of one lung, while pneumonectomy is the removal of an entire lung.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the procedure where drugs are used to destroy the cancerous or malignant cells. The chemotherapy drugs can be taken orally or they can be administered intravenously. Chemotherapy can be used alone or along with surgery to treat lung cancer. If after surgery, some cancerous cells remain in the lungs, then chemotherapy is used to destroy them.

Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is the cancer treatment option, where high-powered energy rays are employed to kill the cancerous cells. Usually, radiation therapy is used before surgery, in order to shrink the cancerous tumors. Like chemotherapy, it can also be used after surgery to destroy the remaining cancer cells. Usually, radiation or high-powered energy beams are administered from outside the body, which is known as external beam radiation. In some cases, radioactive material is administered inside the body with the help of needles or catheters.

Laser and Photodynamic Therapy
Laser and photodynamic therapy are two other treatment options. In laser therapy, laser beams are used to kill cancer cells. Photodynamic therapy also uses a laser for killing the cancerous cells. In this therapy, first a chemical is injected into the bloodstream. This chemical is absorbed by all body cells but, it remains in the cancer cells for longer and gets activated when a laser is directed at these cells. The activated chemical then destroys the cancer cells.

Apart from these, another new treatment option is targeted drug therapy, where certain drugs are used to target some specific abnormalities of the cancer cells. As for example, some drugs used in targeted therapy can prevent the normal supply of blood to the cancer cells, while others can inhibit the chemicals that signal the growth of the cancer cells. Many of the cancer treatment options like, chemotherapy and radiation therapy can have several side effects. Therefore, talk to your doctor to get in-depth information about the possible side effects and risks involved in each treatment.