Lung Cancer - Treatment Side Effects
There can be many different side effects of cancer treatment which is very much dependent on the type of treatment used to treat the cancer and also the amount of time it has been given for. Also the side effects of cancer treatment tend to be different for each person, and also dependent on age, fitness level, health, and a range of other factors.
Luckily the side effects are usually only of a temporary nature. Medical staff will explain any possible side effects of prescribed treatment, and also suggest ways of relieving symptoms that often occur during and after treatment.
Surgery for lung cancer is a huge operation for anyone to go through and patients facing this type of operation often need lots of counselling.
Also after surgery to the lungs, one of the problems often associated is the collection of air and fluid deep in the chest.
Its important that patients who have had this type of surgery are assisted in turning frequently and also the aide of a physiotherapist is sought to teach deep breathing exercises. These assist in expanding the lungs and preventing infection. Other problems associated with lung surgery are pain on breathing, weakness to the chest and legs, and an associated shortness of breath.
Chemotherapy drugs are toxic to all living cells, so they affect normal and cancerous cells alike, but they are more toxic to cancer cells. The idea behind chemotherapy is to pump these drugs into your body in just sufficiently high a dose to kill the cancer cells but leave all non-cancer cells alive and intact.
However, during the course of this process, the patient usually becomes sick and also suffers a range of side effects, which include
hair loss,
nausea,
vomiting,
headache,
mouth sores, fatigue,
loss of appetite,
Increased susceptibility to infection.
Other more serious side effects include: premature menopause in women and infertility in both sexes. Both of these side-effects (menopause and infertility) are permanent. The type and scope of the side effects depends on the particular chemotherapy drugs used for the treatment and upon the dosage of the drugs used for treatment.
Unfortunately Radiation Therapy also affects the normal cells as well as those that are cancerous. There are many side effects from radiation therapy which are usually dependent on the part of the body which has been treated and also the amount of radiation administered to the patient.
These include
Sore throat
loss of appetite
difficulty in swallowing
headaches
skin changes
hair loss
memory loss
The main side effects of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) are the skin and eyes remain sensitive to light for approximately 6 or more weeks after treatment. Because of this, patients have to be discouraged from going out into direct sunlight and brilliant indoor light for at least 6 weeks after undergoing treatment. If patients must go outdoors, then they should wear protective clothing which covers all parts of their body.
Other temporary side effects of PDT might include
coughing,
problems with swallowing,
pain on inspiration (breathing),
Shortness of breath.
Sometimes the skin will become red, blistered or swollen, patients should discuss with their doctor about how to treat it.
During and after their treatment patients should always ensure all side effects have been discussed with their doctor. They can then monitor their progress and swap treatments about if they become concerned about their patients condition.
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.