Lung cancer treatment depends on the type of cancer. The cell type observed in the tumor determines the type of lung cancer. In general there are two types of lung cancer are small cell and non small cell. The lung cancer treatment protocol for these types of cancer cells differs entirely. There are many types of lung cancer. The lung cancers are commonly available squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and oat cell carcinoma. These are cancers of the lung of about 90% observed among lung cancer patients.
Treatment options for lung cancer can only be obtained after diagnosis of lung cancer. Once you have identified or suspected lung cancer, which will be subjected to different types of tests to confirm the presence of lung cancer and also select treatment protocols for lung cancer. The diagnosis of lung cancer can be obtained by X-ray CT (computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
Once you have confirmed with lung cancer, your doctor will provide all details of the treatment of lung cancer. These data cover the stage or extent and location of lung cancer. In the early stages of lung cancer, the cancerous mass confined to one area of the lung. In advanced stages, cancer can spread to other parts of the body through the lymph nodes.
You can talk to your doctor to select the treatment plan of lung cancer. The treatment of lung cancer can be made by any of the following methods
Chemotherapy-treatment with combinations of drugs to kill cancer cells.
Radiotherapy treatment by passing high-energy rays at the cancer cells to kill cancer cells.
Surgery: Treatment by removing the affected part to eradicate lung cancer.
Chemotherapy
This is a type of lung cancer treatment given to the person affected with different combinations of drugs given through intravenous or oral. These drugs enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, and capable of killing cancer cells spread to other parts of the body. The lung cancer treatment requires cancer drugs to eliminate cancer cells. C
Chemotherapy can be performed alone as primary treatment or as combination with surgery. Although chemotherapy kills cancer cells, which kill normal cells as well. Therefore care must be taken by your doctor to minimize potential side effects. The occurrence of side effects depends on the duration of treatment and the amount of drugs he has taken. Nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, hair loss or loss of appetite side effects of chemotherapy.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy can also be used as a treatment for lung cancer. High-energy radiation is used to destroy cancer cells. External beam radiation and brachytherapy are the two main radiotherapy treatment of lung cancer. External radiation therapy is widely used in patients with lung cancer when the patient’s health is too poor to withstand surgery. Brachytherapy is radiation therapy used to treat lung cancer by the relief of the obstruction of large airways due to cancer occurred.
Surgery
Surgery may be preferable as a last resort for treatment of lung cancer. You should spend at least one or two weeks in the hospital for surgical treatment of lung cancer. Under general anesthesia, an incision was made in the chest and the tissue is removed to destroy lung cancer. In this type of lung cancer treatment, possible complications include wound infections, pneumonia and excessive bleeding. Their activity must be limited, at least for 2-3 months since the surgeon enters the lung through an incision in the ribs.
In recent times, an invasive procedure called video-assisted thoracic surgery was developed as a treatment for lung cancer. A tumor less than 4 to 5 cm can be treated by this method.
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