Treatment of Lung Cancer: A Step-by-Step Guide for Patients

 What is Lung Cancer?

Today, cancer is a well-known group of diseases, among them some are beatable and some are not. The Cancer list is long, with approximately 200 types. But, whenever there is talk about the deadliest cancer, lung cancer always stands first in the row. According to the WHO, lung cancer is the deadliest cancer with the highest death rate globally among men and women. It was reported that about 24,80,675 cases of lung cancer occurred in 2022 across the world. The uncontrolled growth of aberrant cells in the lungs is the simplest definition of lung cancer. The main cause of this cancer is smoking. To treat it better, it is crucial to detect it at a very early stage. Otherwise, at a very advanced stage, it becomes difficult to deal with. There are various types of lung cancer, so their treatment varies. It depends on the person's age, overall health, stage detected, medical history, and body response to treatment. To know more about treatment for lung cancer, here is your end-to-end destination.

Type of Lung cancer

Depending on the location of the lung, where tumors are generated, lung cancer is divided into two types:
• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): In those who have been diagnosed with the disease, it is the most prevalent form of lung cancer. Adenocarcinoma and Squamous cell carcinoma are the two kinds of NSCLC that are found mainly. Whereas sarcomatoid carcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma are the less found ones. This type of cancer is usually found in the outer parts of the lungs and is most common in non-smokers and women.

• Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC): This kind of cancer multiplies very fast. It is very difficult to treat SCLC as compared to NSLC. It is commonly found in people who are chronic smokers. This disease is detected when the cancer cells have already spread to other body parts. It is strongly associated with smoking. It is highly aggressive in nature, so it is usually treated with chemotherapy and radiation.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer

Symptoms are experiences or signs the body shows while on-stage of the disease. These can be mild to severe. Symptoms are usually observed in early, intermediate, or advanced stages. The symptoms in the early stages are so mild that they result in the delayed detection of this disease. They vary from person to person. Having some signs doesn't mean that you have lung cancer. But if you observe them continually, it is advised to consult your doctor immediately:
• Fever
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Bone pain
• Chest pain
• Blood in the cough
• loss of appetite
• Swelling in the face
• Difficulty in breathing
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Hoarseness and Wheezing

How Lung Cancer is Diagnosed

You should see a doctor if you have any of the symptoms regularly. He will go for multiple diagnostic tests to detect lung cancer. These diagnostic tests are used to detect the presence of any extra growth within the series. The following diagnosis methods are discussed below:
• Breathing test: This test is used to confirm the proper working of the lungs.
• Imaging tests: These tests include PET, X-ray, and CT scans. They provide different views of lung that will help doctor to detect the presence of the cancer.
• Sputum cytology: A sample of mucus is taken from the lungs and is examined with the help of a microscope. This demonstrates the proliferation of cancer cells in the lungs.
• Biopsy: In the process of biopsy, the sample tissue is collected from the organ using a needle. It will then undergo further testing and be visualized under microscope to detect the presence of the cancer cell.
• Blood test: These blood tests are the basic tests done to know the overall condition of the patient's body. It will help the doctor to decide on a further treatment plan.

Overview of Lung Cancer Treatment Options

To treat lung cancer, it is important to know various associated factors. After diagnosis, the doctor will decide on the desired treatment. He will consider the patient's age, overall health, stage detected, medical history, and body response to treatment. Various treatment options for lung cancer are discussed below:

• Surgery: The primary preference for treating early-stage diseases is surgery. From the lung, the affected tissue in that area is excised. If the detected stage reaches its advanced level, surgery is not an option. It is possible that cancer may spread to other parts after surgery if performed at an advanced stage.

• Chemotherapy: It is a kind of conventional anticancer medicine therapy, which uses heavy drugs to stop or slow down the growth and proliferation of the cancer cells. These medicines are also given in combination with other therapy to enhance the treatment effectiveness. They also reduce the size of tumor cells and prevent their spread to other organs. Your doctor will decide if chemo drugs should be given before or after surgery.

• Radiation Therapy: This kind of therapy uses high-frequency rays to kill the cancer cells. Your doctor will advise whether it should be used before or after surgery. It kills the cancer cells left after surgery. In the case of the early stage, it prevents the further spreading of cancer by damaging its DNA.

• Targeted Therapy: It is a kind of specific gene therapy which kills the cancer cells without damaging healthy cells. It is less painful than conventional chemotherapy. Alecensa 150mg Capsule is a targeted gene therapy drug used in treatment of lung cancer. You can find this Capsule at Magicine Pharma. They offer great discounts on purchase with original brands.

• Immunotherapy: These drugs are specialized medicine which works to stimulate the immune system of the patients body, so that it can kill the cancer cells. This therapy is applicable at an advanced stage when other treatment doesn't work.

• Palliative Care: It refers to after care of the patients, to help them to relieve from symptoms, improve their life, being their emotional and mental supporter in whole battle. It is more effective when added to early stage along with other curative plans.

Also Read - Is Smoking the only risk factor responsible for Lung Cancer?

After Treatment: Follow-Up and Monitoring

Once treatment is completed, the doctor prescribes an aftercare plan for the patient. After treatment is usually needed for the overall well-being of the patients. It includes proper pre-screening and detection of recurrence of lung cancer or any secondary cancers, managing potential side effects after treatment, and offering psychosocial support. It also includes periodic visits to the hospital to monitor the overall health of the patients via blood tests, scans, and physical examinations.
Aftercare also helps the patients to get rid of depression and social stigma. It plays a vital role in maintaining emotional support for patients and their families. Living with cancer takes courage and a lot of challenges within society. Follow-up and aftercare provide a platform for the patients and their family members to discuss and address their concerns.

Exploring Clinical Trials and New Treatments

Current research on the advanced treatment of lung cancer is still in clinical trials. These trials help to make treatment more effective for the patients and identify how it can be improved. New therapeutic drugs were discovered in targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and combinations of other cancer therapies to improve treatment outcomes and reduce side effects.
New trials and treatments are focusing on specific gene mutations as a cause of lung cancer. It is also under investigation how our immune system is performing in fighting cancer. To enhance diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment, it is important to understand its epigenetic process. Various clinical trials and revolutionary drug discoveries offer promises to patients with lung cancer, aiming to improve their lives and lessen the side effects of treatment.

FAQs About Lung Cancer Treatment

Q-For which type of lung cancer, targeted gene therapy work?
Targeted gene therapy works well in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with its associated mutations like EGFR or ALK.

Q-How many stages are divided for Lung Cancer?
There are usually 0 to 5 stages divided on lung cancer. These stages depend on the size of the tumor and how far it has spread.

Q-How is chemotherapy used in the treatment of Lung Cancer?
Chemotherapy drugs are anticancer drugs that are used to kill cancer cells and prevent their spreading to nearby organs. They are given alone or in combination to other drugs to increase treatment effectiveness.

Q-Is it possible to follow up with a daily routine while on treatment for lung cancer?
Yes, you may follow routine while on treatment but with extra precautions. Well, treatment makes your body weak and tired, so you need to adjust some of your schedule to make your body heal.

Q-What are the side effects of Lung Cancer treatment?
Some side effects shown after lung cancer treatment are fatigue, nausea, hair loss, infections, shortness of breath, and immune-related effects (for immunotherapy).

Q-Which stage of lung cancer is deadly?
Stage 4 lung cancer is impossible to treat. Treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy can reduce the symptoms. These treatments may improve the survival rate.

Conclusion

Lungs are respiratory organs, essential for living. But cancer in those is a problem. Smoking and alcohol are major reasons behind this. Lungs provide oxygen to the blood, so the blood passes through them 24/7. So, it is difficult to treat. But by changing a few habits, we can cope with this risk. Proper screening and better treatment may reduce tumor growth. Early detection leads to better and improved outcomes, but many cases are diagnosed at very advanced stages due to late-appearing symptoms. Advanced research in imaging, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy is improving survival rates and the quality of life of patients. You can even get expert talk about your concerns. Magicine Pharma, an online pharmacy brand, provides expert talks and counseling. We believe in coping with cancer with hope and medicine.

Reference

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer#:~:text=lung%20(1.80%20million%20deaths);,breast%20(685%20000%20deaths).
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer.html