Lung Cancer - Treatments - Radiation, Photodynamic, and Cryosurgery
The treatment options for lung cancer usually depend upon on a number of relevant factors. These can include the type of lung cancer to be treated and the dimension of the mass, its location, and how much it has actually extended to other parts of the surrounding tissues and organs.
It's also important that the general health of the patient is also taken into account before deciding on the type of treatment to be administered.
Many different treatments and combinations of treatments may be used to control lung cancer, and/or to improve quality of life by reducing symptoms. The main treatment options are:
Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation Therapy
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
Cryosurgery
In this article we discuss Radiation and Photodynamic Therapies.
Radiation Therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill the cancer cells. During this type of therapy, radiation is concentrated and focused onto cancer cells within a precise site in the body with the aim of killing any cancer cells present.
Radiation Therapy can also be used in combination with surgery. For example it can be used to shrink a tumour before surgery is performed or even after the patient has had surgery to destroy any cancer cells that remain.
Radiation Therapy can also be used in conjunction with Chemotherapy, as primary treatment instead of surgery. Radiation Therapy may also be used to relieve symptoms such as shortness of breath by attacking and shrinking the cancer to make breathing easier.
In most cases, the radiation for the Radiation Therapy treatment of lung cancer comes from a special machine. However, the radiation can also come from a device implanted into the body so that it is in the tumour or as close as possible to the tumour. This device contains radioactive material that is then released to attach the tumours.
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a type of laser therapy. It involves the use of a special substance injected into the patient's bloodstream and then absorbed by the cells of the body.
The substance is specifically chosen for this treatment as it leaves normal cells quite quickly and lingers in cancer cells for a longer time. A specially focused laser light is aimed at the cancer which then activates the substance. It then destroys the cancer cells.
As with Radiation Therapy, Photodynamic Therapy may also be used to reduce symptoms of lung cancer. For example, Photodynamic Therapy may be used to control and reduce internal bleeding or it may be used to relieve shortness of breath as a result of blocked airways, especially when the cancer cannot be removed through surgery or other means.
Photodynamic Therapy is a treatment option which can be used to treat very small tumours in those patients for whom the usual treatments for lung cancer are not appropriate.
Because Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) is prone to grow and spread quickly, chemotherapy is often used to deal with this form of cancer. In addition, patients with small cell cancer may also receive radiation therapy to the brain even though no cancer is found there. This radiation treatment is called Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation (PCI), and is given to prevent the formation of tumours in the brain.
Cryosurgery is another treatment option for cancer. Cryosurgery freezes and destroys cancer tissue, and it can be effective in controlling the symptoms of cancer.
Researchers around the world continue to study the causes of lung and other cancers and to search for ways to prevent or cure them. Clearly, however, there is still a long way to go and further research is required.
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.