Lung Cancer - Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Complementary and alternative medicine incorporates a broad range of remedial philosophies, approaches, and therapies.
Many trained medical doctors are sceptical about many of the claims of complementary and alternative medicine, especially when it comes to treatments for cancer.
The terms "complementary" and "alternative" medicine often are used interchangeably, however the strict meaning terms are quite different. A therapy is generally called complementary when it is used along-side a conventional treatment. However, a therapy is generally called alternative when it is used instead of conventional treatment.
Many people who are suffering with lung cancer and use a type of complementary medicine usually use it in combination with their conservative treatment. This is usually what would be advised by a doctor. You certainly want to have as many bases covered as you possibly can when it comes to something as serious as cancer.
However, other people have chosen to use alternative methods alone, or have moved to alternative methods after conventional treatments have failed.
For more information on complementary and alternative medicine, visit these web sites:
The National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Internet: http://nccam.nih.gov/
Complementary/Integrative Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre
Internet: http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/cimer/
Dr. Andrew Weil
Internet: http://www.drweil.com/
Dr Stephen Barrett's Quackwatch
Internet: http://www.quackwatch.org/
Lung Cancer - Overview
Lung Cancer is a type of cancer that forms in tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining air passages. Many lung cancers begin in the bronchi though others can start in other parts of the lungs. Lung cancer also has a tendency to form in the glands below the bronchi.
Lung Cancer - Probabilities
Lung cancer causes up to 30% of all cancer related deaths, and it is the 2nd leading cause of death among both men and women in western society. 85% of all lung cancers are caused by a person's smoking habit or just by breathing in the second-hand smoke of others.
Lung Cancer - Screening
At this moment in time, there is no particularly useful single test that can be considered 100% reliable for the early detection of lung cancer. Unfortunately unless someone is undergoing a health screen for something completely unrelated, lung cancer is very often only discovered in the later stages of the disease when it is often too late to do anything but offer palliative treatment.
Lung Cancer - Symptoms
The most common indicators and symptoms of lung cancer include the following: Fatigue Shortness of breath and wheezing (dyspnoea) A cough that doesn't go away and gets worse over time Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis Constant chest pain Coughing up blood (bloody sputum) (haemoptysis) Swelling of the neck and face Fever Loss of appetite and Weight loss (anorexia) Hoarse voice
Lung Cancer Treatment Options - Radiation
In many cases of lung cancer, surgery is not an option. This may be because of the advanced stage of the cancer, the location of the tumor or tumors, or because of the overall general health of the patient. In those cases, the oncologist may suggest radiation therapy to treat lung cancer. Even if surgery is an option, the doctor may suggest irradiation either before therapy to shrink the tumor or after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
Lung Cancer - Trends by Ethnicity, Sex and Race
In the USA and many other western countries, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. Lung cancer has been found to be the leading cancer killer among Caucasians, African-Americans, Asians and Hispanic males.