Cancer of the lungs like all cancers is an offshoot of an aberration of life’s basic unit, the CELL. Disruption of cell growth brought about by certain factors such as smoking, air pollution, and genetics results in a division and proliferation of cells that lead to the formation of mass known as tumor.
These tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors are those that can be removed in an operation and does not spread to the other parts of the body. Lung Cancer on the other hand is categorized as a malignant tumor. These tumors grow fast and affect other surrounding tissues in the body.
Lung Cancer spread very fast after it forms which makes it very life threatening and one of the most difficult to treat. This type of cancer immensely destroys the liver, brain, bone and the adrenal glands. However, with the modernization of medicine, Lung cancer may be difficult to cure, but processes are utilized today in the desire to bring wellness to the patient.
Common Lung Cancer Treatments
Before proceeding to treatment, Lung Cancer patients’ are categorized into two groups: Low risk patients for Cancer reappearance and High Risk patients for Cancer reappearance. This is done in order to assess what will be the patients’ response to therapy.
1. Cutting Away The Tumor – this is also termed as “surgical resection” which is done for cancer that has not yet spread beyond the lung. Various techniques are also employed in order to remove the tumor. There is Thoracotomy and Median Sternotomy, the former is performed by cutting an incision in the chest wall while the latter is done by cutting through the breast bone.
Other less invasive procedure was recently developed by surgeons in order to remove cancerous lung tissues. VAT or Video Assisted Thorascopy is a procedure that utilizes a camera to help visualize and operate on the lung within the chest cavity. Also, incisions made by this procedure are smaller compared to incisions made in Thoracotomy or Sternotomy.
2. Chemotherapy – If the tumor is widespread and is aggressive, chemotherapy, radiation therapies and other therapies can be used instead of a surgical procedure.
3. Erlotinib – A recent research was conducted and found out a certain drug to help patients battle Lung Cancer. This drug is called “Erlotinib”, also known as “Tarceva”. According to the research that was participated by 670 participants who were all having advanced Lung Cancer, the drug gave great efficacy by controlling the cancer cells avoiding it to multiply. This drug is also advisable for patients who are too ill to undergo chemotherapy, if they are not allowed for chemo, then there is still hope through Erlotinib.
Records also show that 15% of Lung Cancer patients were alive and show no sign of cancer progress after having introduced to the drug. Amazingly, results of the study also showcased that Erlotinib is even more effective if used by women who have Lung Cancer.
It is a fact that Lung Cancer causes the highest percentage of mortality rate compared to other cancers. In the future, with medical advancement and research, Lung Cancer will hopefully be cured and patients’ health will hopefully be alleviated.
Cancer of the lungs like all cancers is an offshoot of an aberration of life’s basic unit, the CELL. Disruption of cell growth brought about by certain factors such as smoking, air pollution, and genetics results in a division and proliferation of cells that lead to the formation of mass known as tumor. These tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors are those that can be removed in an operation and does not spread to the other parts of the body. Lung Cancer on the other hand is categorized as a malignant tumor. These tumors grow fast and affect other surrounding tissues in the body. Lung Cancer spread very fast after it forms which makes it very life threatening and one of the most difficult to treat. This type of cancer immensely destroys the liver, brain, bone and the adrenal glands. However, with the modernization of medicine, Lung cancer may be difficult to cure, but processes are utilized today in the desire to bring wellness to the patient.
Common Lung Cancer Treatments
Before proceeding to treatment, Lung Cancer patients’ are categorized into two groups: Low risk patients for Cancer reappearance and High Risk patients for Cancer reappearance. This is done in order to assess what will be the patients’ response to therapy.
Cutting Away The Tumor – this is also termed as “surgical resection” which is done for cancer that has not yet spread beyond the lung. Various techniques are also employed in order to remove the tumor. There is Thoracotomy and Median Sternotomy, the former is performed by cutting an incision in the chest wall while the latter is done by cutting through the breast bone.
Other less invasive procedure was recently developed by surgeons in order to remove cancerous lung tissues. VAT or Video Assisted Thorascopy is a procedure that utilizes a camera to help visualize and operate on the lung within the chest cavity. Also, incisions made by this procedure are smaller compared to incisions made in Thoracotomy or Sternotomy.
Chemotherapy – If the tumor is widespread and is aggressive, chemotherapy, radiation therapies and other therapies can be used instead of a surgical procedure.
Erlotinib – A recent research was conducted and found out a certain drug to help patients battle Lung Cancer. This drug is called “Erlotinib”, also known as “Tarceva”. According to the research that was participated by 670 participants who were all having advanced Lung Cancer, the drug gave great efficacy by controlling the cancer cells avoiding it to multiply. This drug is also advisable for patients who are too ill to undergo chemotherapy, if they are not allowed for chemo, then there is still hope through Erlotinib.
Records also show that 15% of Lung Cancer patients were alive and show no sign of cancer progress after having introduced to the drug. Amazingly, results of the study also showcased that Erlotinib is even more effective if used by women who have Lung Cancer.
It is a fact that Lung Cancer causes the highest percentage of mortality rate compared to other cancers. In the future, with medical advancement and research, Lung Cancer will hopefully be cured and patients’ health will hopefully be alleviated.
