Non-small
cell lung
cancer treatment
There are many different types of treatment for non small cell lung cancer
treatment. The treatment depends on the stage of
the cancer. The three most described ways are surgery, chemotherapy,
and radiation. These are the main treatment options for non small cell lung cancer. In fact, the appropriate application of
skilled palliative care is an important part of the treatment of patients with
non small cell lung cancer.
Surgery
If the patient is in an early stage, the doctor will
probably recommend surgery to take out the cancer. Surgery is the
treatment of choice for stage I and stage II non small cell lung cancer. Several different types of surgery can be
used, and the surgeon may remove:
·
One of the lobes of the lung (lobectomy)
·
Only a small part of the lung (wedge or segment
removal)
·
The entire lung (pneumonectomy)
Chemotherapy
Some patients
need chemotherapy. Drugs are
given to patients to kill cancer cells and stop new cells from growing.
Treatment can be done in the following ways:
·
Chemotherapy alone if the cancer has spread
outside the lung.
·
Before surgery or radiation to make those
treatments more effective: neoadjuvant therapy.
·
After surgery to kill any remaining cancer:
adjuvant therapy.
Chemotherapy is given through a vein or by
pills.
The first line treatment for non small cell lung cancer include a platinum combination. In younger
patients, with a good performance status or in the adjuvant setting, cisplatin
is preferred, but in older patients or those with significant comorbidities,
carboplatin may be substituted. This has been described and advised by the
American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines.
Radiation
Radiation
therapy uses powerful x-rays or other forms of radiation to kill cancer cells. It also can kill cancer cells that remain after
surgery, and treats certain cancers that the doctor can't eliminate with
surgery alone. The radiation is given either from a high energy beam aimed at
the cancer from outside of the body
using a special machine, or from a radioactive substance put inside the body in
or near the cancer. In the treatment of non small cell lung cancer stage I and
stage II, radiation therapy alone is considered if the surgical resection is
not possible. It is actually
an option to use radiation only for non small cell lung cancer treatment among
those who are not candidates for surgery.
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