How is lung cancer treated? Let's go into detail
Surgery can be an important treatment when the cancer is confined to the lungs and the patient can tolerate surgery.
Lung cancer may not have symptoms in the early stages, so if you have a cough, chest pain, or blood in your sputum, you should see your doctor.
Lung cancer is one of the most serious health problems worldwide. Since there may be no obvious symptoms in its early stages, many people are diagnosed only after the disease has spread. People who smoke for a long time are especially at risk. However, even non-smokers can get lung cancer. Timely diagnosis of the disease and starting the correct treatment according to the type and condition of cancer is considered very important for the treatment results.
Lung cancer is mainly of two types, non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer is seen relatively more. These two types of cancer may differ in growth, spread and treatment. Therefore, all patients with lung cancer are not treated in the same way.
Why does lung cancer occur?
The most important risk factor for lung cancer is smoking. Consumption of cigarettes, bindis and other tobacco products increases its risk. Second-hand smoke can also increase the risk of living with a smoker for long periods of time.
Similarly, exposure to air pollution, long-term contact with some industrial chemicals, radon gas, and some types of dust or toxic substances in the workplace can also increase the risk. Although the risk increases with age, lung cancer can occur in people of any age.
What are the initial symptoms?
In the early stages of lung cancer, there may be no symptoms. Symptoms may include prolonged coughing, changes in the appearance of an old cough, difficulty breathing, chest pain, blood in the sputum, frequent lung infections, changes in voice, abnormal weight loss, loss of appetite, and excessive fatigue.
The presence of any of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that cancer is present. These symptoms can also be seen in many other diseases. But if the symptoms persist for a long time, it is necessary to check with a doctor.
How is cancer diagnosed before treatment?
If lung cancer is suspected, the doctor will conduct necessary tests after obtaining information about the patient's health history, smoking status and symptoms. Usually, imaging tests such as chest X-rays and CT scans can look for abnormal lumps or other changes in the lungs.
But imaging tests alone do not definitively confirm cancer. Biopsy is done if necessary. In this, tissue or cells are removed from the suspicious part and tested in the laboratory.
In some cases, the necessary tissue can be removed by viewing the inside of the trachea and lungs through bronchoscopy. In some cases, a sample is taken from the lung nodule through a needle. Sputum cytology can also be done to see if there are cancer cells in the stool.
Why is it important to find out the stage of cancer?
The next important step after cancer is confirmed is staging. That is, how big the cancer is, whether it has spread to nearby lymph nodes and whether it has reached other parts of the body is found out.
For this, tests such as CT scan, PET scan, MRI of the brain can be done as needed. Knowing the stage of cancer makes it easier to plan the right treatment.
Generally, lung cancer is classified into different stages from early stage to advanced stage. In the early stages, the cancer may be limited to the lungs, while in the advanced stage, it may spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
Why are biomarker and gene testing important?
Especially in non-small cell lung cancer, molecular or biomarker tests can be important in choosing treatment. Cancer cells can be tested for certain gene changes such as EGFR, ALK, ROS, BRAF, KRAS, MET, RET, and NTRK. Similarly, in some cases, biomarkers such as PD-L1 are also tested.
Such tests help the doctor to decide which of the targeted drugs or immunotherapy might be useful. So just knowing the name of the cancer is not enough when the cancer is confirmed; It may also be important to understand its biological characteristics.
How is lung cancer treated?
Lung cancer treatment is not the same for all patients. Treatment is selected based on the type of cancer, stage, gene mutation, tumor location, patient's age, lung function and overall health.
1. Surgery
Surgery can be an important treatment when the cancer is confined to the lungs and the patient can tolerate surgery. In surgery, the cancerous part is removed.
Wedge resection or segmentectomy can be done in small tumors. A lobectomy is performed in cases where the entire lobe with cancer needs to be removed. In special circumstances, pneumonectomy is performed when the entire lung needs to be removed. During surgery, nearby lymph nodes can also be removed to check if the cancer has spread.
2. Chemotherapy
In chemotherapy, drugs are used to stop or destroy the growth of cancer cells. Medicines are usually given intravenously, but some medicines can also be taken orally are Chemotherapy may be used to reduce the size of the tumor before surgery or to destroy cancer cells that may remain in the body after surgery. In advanced cases, it is also used to control the growth of the disease and reduce the symptoms.
Side effects such as fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, hair loss and decrease in the number of blood cells may occur during chemotherapy. But not all side effects are seen in all patients and many can be controlled with medication and other supportive treatments.
3. Radiation therapy
In radiation therapy, an attempt is made to destroy or control cancer cells by targeting high-energy rays at the cancerous part. It can be used before or after surgery. Radiation may be the main treatment for some early cancers that cannot be operated on. In advanced cases, radiation can also be used to reduce pain, bleeding, or other symptoms caused by the spread of cancer.
4. Stereotactic body radiotherapy
Stereotactic body radiotherapy is a very precise technique of radiation therapy. In this, a high dose of radiation is targeted at a specific location with a small tumor and an attempt is made to protect the surrounding healthy tissue as much as possible. This treatment may be useful in some early-stage non-small cell lung cancer patients who cannot undergo surgery.
5. Targeted drug therapy
Targeted therapy can be used if certain gene changes or other specific biological changes are found in cancer cells. Its purpose is to target specific processes that cause cancer to grow compared to normal cells. But targeted drugs are not effective for all patients who do not have gene changes. Therefore, it is important to test the necessary biomarkers before treatment.
6. Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy helps the body's immune system to work effectively against cancer cells. In some types of advanced lung cancer, immunotherapy may be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy. The doctor decides which patient to give this treatment based on the type of cancer, stage and necessary biomarker tests.
7. Supportive care is also important during treatment
Cancer treatment is not only about removing the tumor or stopping the growth of cancer. Management of problems such as pain, difficulty breathing, nausea, loss of appetite, weakness and mental stress during treatment is also important.
This is called supportive or palliative care. Such care can be initiated not only at the end of treatment but also as needed along with cancer treatment. Its purpose is to improve the patient's quality of life and control symptoms.
Why is regular follow-up necessary after treatment?
Even after the treatment is completed, regular follow-up is necessary. The doctor can perform a physical examination, necessary imaging and other tests based on the patient's condition. From this, it can be evaluated whether the cancer has reappeared, whether the treatment has long-term effects, and whether additional treatment is necessary.
What can be done to prevent lung cancer?
Not all lung cancer risks can be prevented, but many significant risks can be reduced. One of the most important steps a smoker can take is to quit smoking. Stay away from other people's smoke as much as possible.
People who come into contact with dust, chemicals or other hazardous substances in the workplace must use the necessary protective equipment. In case of high air pollution, it is also useful to take measures to reduce the risk.
Treatment is not the same for everyone
The treatment of lung cancer is now more developed than ever before. New treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, along with targeted drugs and immunotherapy, have expanded treatment options for many patients. But the treatment is not the same for all patients. Based on the type of cancer, stage, biomarkers, patient's health condition and response to treatment, the expert doctor decides the treatment plan.
Therefore, symptoms such as prolonged coughing, blood in the sputum, chest pain, difficulty in breathing or weight loss without any reason should not be ignored. Medical examination should be done on time.
