Lung Cancer Treatment Options - Photodynamic Therapy
One of the newest options for treating lung cancer is photodynamic therapy. PDT is most often recommended for inoperable lung cancer that is primarily sited in the trachea or the bronchi, or for cancers that have metastasized from other sites to the bronchi or trachea. PDT may be either curative (meant to remove the cancer entirely) or palliative (meant to relieve symptoms of cancer when it cannot be completely removed). It is especially suited to relieving symptoms of lung cancer that include bleeding and difficulty breathing because of tumors that block the trachea or bronchi. Tumors obstructing the airways can cause pneumonia, coughing, bleeding and difficulty breathing. The purpose of the photodynamic therapy depends on the stage and size of the tumor or tumors.
PDT consists of three parts. The first is an intravenous injection of a drug that makes cells more sensitive to light. This drug - Photofrin - is retained in cancerous cells, but not in healthy cells. Forty to fifty hours later, a laser light is inserted through a flexible tube into the bronchial passages. It exposes the cancerous cells to a low intensity red laser light which destroys the cancer cells. About two days later, the bronchoscopy is repeated, this time to remove the dead cancer cells and accumulated mucus from the trachea or bronchi.
In order to be a good candidate for photodynamic therapy, the cancer must be located in a place where the bronchoscope can reach, and it must be large enough to be visualized by the bronchoscope. If the cancer is growing outside the trachea or the bronchial air passages, then photodynamic therapy will not be possible.
The side effects of PDT are minimal. The most lasting effect is photosensitivity. The injection of Photofrin can result in sensitivity to light that lasts for four to eight weeks after treatment. This can cause severe sunburn if a person who has taken it is exposed to normal sunlight. Because of this, it's recommended that people who undergo PDT take precautions to avoid exposure to sunlight for four to eight weeks after the treatment.
The advantages of photodynamic therapy over other types of surgery or treatment for lung cancer include avoiding the risks associated with major surgery, the treatment of tumors that were inoperable because of their location, and almost immediate effects when used for palliative purposes
Evaluation for photodynamic therapy includes an initial medical history, followed by chest x-rays and CT scans to determine the location of tumors. The doctor may also perform a diagnostic bronchoscopy to be sure that the cancer is reachable with the bronchoscope.
Treatment for lung cancer with photodynamic therapy may be combined with radiation therapy and chemotherapy, depending on the type and stage of the lung cancer. Most doctors use a multi-treatment approach to give their patients the best possible chances for survival and quality of life.
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.