Lung Cancer Treatment Options: Chemotherapy
One of the options usually prescribed for lung cancer is chemotherapy. It's generally the treatment of choice for small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and may be prescribed as a follow-up to surgery for non-small cell lung cancer.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to combat cancer. The drugs chosen are dictated by the specific cancer and its stage. They're sometimes referred to as 'cytotoxins' - drugs that are toxic to cancer cells. They work by disrupting the replication of cancer cells in one way or another.
Why would the doctor prescribe chemotherapy instead of other treatments?
Radiology and surgery both treat cancer locally - that is, they are focused on treating cancer that is localized in one area of your body. SCLC is often not discovered before it has already begun to spread to other parts of your body. With chemotherapy, the drug circulates in your blood, seeking out cancer cells wherever they may have spread.
With small cell lung cancer, the spread of cancer is microscopic, and often doesn't show up on scans until it has established itself in other organ systems. Doctors may decide to treat SCLC with chemotherapy as a prophylactic measure, on the assumption that the cancer has already begun to spread. Chemotherapy is often prescribed with radiotherapy, either before, after or concurrent with it. Many doctors also prescribe a course of chemotherapy after surgery to 'clean up' any cancer cells that may have already broken off the main site and begun to spread.
The doctor may also prescribe chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer, though it's not as sensitive to drugs as small cell lung cancer. When chemotherapy is prescribed for NSCLC, its purpose is often to shrink the tumor before surgery or radiation. You may also have chemotherapy to help control the symptoms of lung cancer and make you more comfortable while undergoing treatment. In fact, in June 2001, the British National Institute for Clinical Excellence made a formal statement that people with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer should be considered for chemotherapy even if it is not likely to eradicate the cancer because it reduces the symptoms and allows a longer, more comfortable life.
What drugs are used in chemotherapy?
There are many cytotoxic drugs that are used to fight lung cancer. Cisplatin is one of the most common, and it is often prescribed in combination with other drugs that increase its effectiveness. There are many new drugs being tested in open clinical trials. You can check one of many online databases for currently open or enrolling trials, or your doctor may recommend that you enroll in one.
There are over fifty drugs that are used to treat different kinds of cancer. A skilled oncologist can prescribe the ones that are best for your particular situation - but that doesn't mean that you have to - or even should - accept all of his judgments blindly. Ask him to write down the names of the drugs that are being used so that you can research them yourself to find out about side effects and other concerns.
Finally, be certain to discuss any complementary or alternative therapies that you are using, even nutritional supplements. Some of them may interfere with the drugs that are prescribed in unexpected ways, particularly those that claim to boost your immune system. It's important for you to eat healthy, and some foods and supplements may be helpful while you're undergoing chemotherapy - but it is vital that your health professional knows what you're using and taking.
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.