Home
| Health
| Cancer
| Lung Cancer Treatment
| Early Lung Cancer Treatments
Early Lung Cancer Treatments
by Paul Favors
-
Overview
Lung cancer occurs when the cells comprising the lungs begin to grow out of control and form a tumor. The tumor can be located anywhere in the lung and may produce cancer cells and metastasis, or spread to other parts of the body. Lung cancer grows slowly and if detected early on can be treated in various ways to totally eliminate the tumors.
-
Surgery
Surgery is often advised to patients with early lung cancer who are otherwise physically fit. The surgery results with the removal of all tumors. During early lung cancer, the tumor is usually eliminated in one operation. However, follow-up surgery may be needed to remove any tumors that may recur. The main concern for those who opt for surgery should be the length and size of the mass. This is the determining factor on how extreme the operation will be.
-
Kinds of Surgery
Early lung cancer surgery usually involves a lobectomy, which is the total removal of a lung lobe. This is best for patients whose lungs are otherwise functioning well. A segmental resection or a wedge resection may also be done. In this type of surgery, the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue are removed. This is used for patients with small tumors but whose lung functions are limited.
-
Radiation
Radiation, or radiotherapy, can also be used for early lung cancer patients. It involves bombarding the body with high levels of e-ray beams that destroy the cancer cells. Radiation can be used as the main treatment for cancer as well as to shrink the tumor in the lungs. Early lung cancer patients who are not good candidates for surgery but have tumors that can be reached by the x-ray beam can undergo radiation. Those who are old, have heart diseases, or take blood thinning drugs often use radiation as their primary option, because their condition does not make surgery viable.
-
Kinds of Radiation Therapy
There are various kinds of radiotherapy, depending on how they are administered. External beam radiation uses a beam of-ray directly on the tumor. This particular type of radiation is given in sessions over a period of six weeks. 3-D conformal radiotherapy uses a CT scan to get an image of the tumor that will be used as a guide for the radiation beam. The advantage of the conformal radiotherapy is that the beam takes on the shape of the tumor and thus minimizes exposure of other tissue.
-
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy administers drugs into the body that are meant to kill or shrink the cancer cells found in the lungs. It can be done by injecting the medication into the vein. This technique can be used on all stages of cancer, including early lung cancer, and is known to work, even on the elderly. Chemotherapy may also be used in conjunction with other treatment for early lung cancer such as surgery to ensure that none of the cancer cells survive. Chemotherapy is a viable option for those who need to slow down tumor growth as well as those who cannot undergo an operation.
