Lung Cancer Common Treatments

Lung Cancer Common Treatments

Lung cancer is a cancer that begins in the lungs and can develop due to smoking or by breathing dangerous toxic substances over time. Some people get this disease from second-hand smoke. Early symptoms can include a lingering or worsening cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up phlegm or blood, hoarseness, weakness and fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss, and wheezing. There are two main kinds of lung cancer and they include small cell lung cancer and non-small lung cancer (NSCLC).

The following non-small cell lung cancer (SCLC) treatments are listed below.

1. Chemo for treating non-small lung cancer
Chemotherapy, also known as chemo, is used to treat non-small lung cancer. This treatment option utilizes special drugs that attack the cancerous cells. They work by targeting and then shrinking cancer until it is no longer any viable. This type of cancer treatment is often administered as an oral medication or as an injection.

2. Targeted therapy treatment options
Targeted therapy plays a defensive role against cancer. This type of treatment is given in drug form and its purpose is to block the cancer from spreading and prevent its growth. This double defense treatment option is very effective and can make it difficult for cancer to return once it has been eliminated.

3. Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment staple. This type of cancer relieving remedy utilizes high energy rays to target the cancer. These rays are typically focused on the body part affected by cancer. Radiation is also an effective treatment option for non-small lung cancer, but its side effects can be tough.

4. Surgical procedures for eliminating cancer
Sometimes cancer can be removed through surgical procedures. While surgery is not recommended as a first option, it is sometimes used right away because other non-small cancer cures might not be practical for some patients. Surgery is focused on removing the cancer by using special surgical tools.

5. Immunotherapy for lung cancer
Immunotherapy boosts a person’s immune system so it can fight off cancer within their body. This remedy uses special drugs and oncologists often use immunotherapy in conjunction with other types of cancer treatment options.

These are the main types of cancer treatment options used for non-small lung cancer. They are effective for treating cancer, but they are not always guaranteed to work. The survival rate for non-small lung cancer is really high, but a person’s chances of survival significantly increases when they discover cancer in the early stages. Also keep in mind that non-small lung cancer can be aggressive and if caught in the latter stages it can even be fatal. Of course, stages 1 and 2 give patients the best chance of surviving this disease. People that have stages 3 and 4 will be in for a fight when trying to treat this problem. Oncologists typically have many different methods and processes that they use to help non-small lung cancer patients to beat this disease.