According to Radiology Info, more than one in four of all cancers that are diagnosed involve the lungs. The site goes on to state that lung cancers are the most common cause of cancer related deaths among both men and women in the United States. However, this is a disease that can be successfully eliminated through a variety and combination of treatments if detected early enough.
Surgery
Surgery is the the first treatment choice for patients whose lung cancer is detected in the early stages and who are in good health. The ultimate goal of surgery is to remove all tumor cells, ultimately curing the cancer. In some cases, the tumor may return, requiring a second surgery to remove it. A variety of surgeries may be performed, depending on the stage of the cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, these include wedge resection, which removes only a small section of the lung containing the tumor, as well as a small amount of healthy tissue. A segmental resection removes a larger part of the lung, but not the entire lobe (section of the lung). A lobectomy removes the entire lobe where the tumor is located, while a pneumonectomy is a procedure that removes the entire lung.
Approximately one-third of all patients have a localized lung cancer, which can be treated successfully by surgical resectioning. Another one-third of patients have lung cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes. This usually requires a combination of surgery to remove the lymph nodes, along with radiation and chemotherapy to destroy the cancer cells that have spread. The remaining third of patients have a more advanced form of lung cancer. This means the tumor has already spread beyond the lungs and lymph nodes to various parts of the body and chemotherapy and radiation are used to provide comfort and relief from the painful symptoms.
Radiation Therapy
Given in a series of sessions, usually over a period of six weeks, radiation therapy can be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Depending on the stage of the cancer, it is sometimes the the primary treatment. Some doctors prescribes radiation therapy prior to surgery to help reduce the size of the tumor, increasing the rate of surgical success. It is also used after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells, or to destroy cancer cells that have spread.
The most commonly used type of radiation therapy is external beam. This implements the use of a machine outside the body, which directs high-powered X-ray beams directly at the site of the tumor. In some cases, internal radiation, or brachytherapy, is used. This places needles or catheters inside the body, close to the site of the tumor, allowing for higher doses of radiation to be administered while reducing the damage done to the healthy cells around it.
Chemotherapy
According to the Mayo Clinic, chemotherapy is often used as the first line of treatment for lung cancer. It involves highly toxic drugs which are taken orally, administered intravenously (through a vein in the arm) or as an injection into the muscle. When administered, these drugs travel through the bloodstream, attacking and destroying any cancer cells that have spread. Chemotherapy is generally given over a period of weeks or months, and may or may not be used in combination with radiation therapy. In many cases, it is an effective backup for surgery, ensuring that any remaining cancer cells are destroyed.
