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New Lung Cancer TreatmentsTreatment options for lung cancer usually depend upon on a number of relevant factors. These can include the type of lung cancer to be treated, the dimension of the mass, its location, and how much it has metastasized to surrounding tissues and organs. Another important consideration is the general health of the patient. The most common treatments and combinations of treatments used to control lung cancer, and/or to improve quality of life by reducing symptoms, include:
Here, we'll discuss Radiation and Photodynamic Therapies. Radiation Therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. During this therapy, radiation is concentrated and focused onto cancer cells within a specific site within the body with the aim of killing those cells. Radiation Therapy can be, and is often used in combination with surgery. For example, it can be used to shrink a tumor before surgery, or after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. In addition, Radiation Therapy can be used in conjunction with chemotherapy, as the primary treatment in place of surgery. Radiation Therapy is also used to relieve symptoms such as shortness of breath by attacking and shrinking the cancer to make breathing easier. In most cases, the source of radiation for this form of therapy is delivered from a special machine. However, Radiation Therapy can also be delivered through an implant. This form of treatment is often referred to as brachytherapy. The implant and its placement are dependent on the size and location of the cancer. With interstitial radiation, implants are inserted directly into the tumor (in the case of intracavitary radiation, special applicators are used to insert the implant inside a body cavity; or in the case of intraluminal radiation, a body passage. Implants can also be placed on the surface of a tumor, or in the area from which the tumor has been removed. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a form of laser therapy that involves the use of a photosensitizing agent injected into the patient's bloodstream, then absorbed by the cells of the body, remaining in the cancer cells longer than it does in normal cells. One to three days after the injection, after the photosensitizing agent has left the normal cells, the tumor is exposed to light, which produces a form of oxygen that destroys the cancer cells. Photodynamic Therapy can be used to treat very small tumors in those patients for whom the usual treatments for lung cancer are not appropriate. As with Radiation Therapy, Photodynamic Therapy may also be used to reduce symptoms of lung cancer. For example, it may be used to control and reduce internal bleeding, or it may be used to relieve shortness of breath as a result of blocked airways, especially when the cancer cannot be removed through surgery or other means. Because Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) is prone to grow and spread quickly, chemotherapy is often used to deal with this form of cancer. In addition, patients with small cell cancer may also receive radiation therapy to the brain even though no cancer is found there. This radiation treatment is called Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation (PCI), and is a preventative measure to preclude the formation of tumors in the brain. Cryosurgery is yet another treatment option for cancer. Cryosurgery freezes and destroys cancer tissues. It can be effective in controlling the symptoms of cancer. Researchers around the world continue to study the causes of lung and other cancers and to search for ways to prevent or cure them. Clearly, however, there is still a long way to go and further research is required.
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