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determination as to which one is prescribed depends on the lung
cancer stage that has been diagnosed, the location of the
cancer, and the patient's health. The most common treatments for
lung cancer include Surgery, Radiation, Chemotherapy, and
Targeted Therapy.
Surgery
Surgery involves cutting away a cancerous tumor and a portion of
the tissue that has surrounded the tumor. Sometimes the surgical
treatment involves removal of the entire affected lung. Surgery
is often effective, but recovery time can be long. Because the
surgeon will have to cut through the rib cage to get to the
lungs, there will be pain and bed rest for one to two months
after the procedure.
In addition to traditional surgical methods, other types of
surgical procedures can be used depending on the location of the
tumor and also the patient's physical condition. A craniotomy,
which is basically surgery performed through a hole made to the
skull can be prescribed to tumors located in the brain. For
small tumors, a procedure whereby a video camera is inserted
into a tiny incision helps the surgeon zero in on a tumor.
Because the incision is small, pain is generally reduced.
Phytoestrogens: The Latest Compounds To Reduce Lung Cancer Risk, And Where To Find ThemA new weapon has been uncovered in the fight against lung cancer -- the leading cancer killer of men and women in the United States. Eating foods that are rich in phytoestrogens appears to lower lung cancer risk in both smokers and non-smokers, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study, the largest of its kind to examine dietary intake of phytoestrogens and lung cancer risk in the United States, involved over 3,500 people.
Lung Cancer Takes a Major Toll
The findings come at an opportune time, as lung cancer causes more deaths than the ne ..
Radiation
Radiation can either be used by itself or in conjunction with a
surgical procedure. Radiation can be beamed directly at the
cancerous tumor from the outside of the body using a laser, or
radiation can be delivered directly to the tumor via a small
pellet. When a patient's overall state of health is poor,
radiation is a better alternative than undergoing a surgical
procedure. In cases where surgery has been performed, radiation
might also be prescribed as a way to remove the cancerous cells
that for whatever reason could not be surgically removed.
Radiation to remove brain tumors can result in changing the
brain's functionality later on, but may be the only option.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is actually a drug that works to remove cancer by
way of the bloodstream. Chemotherapy drugs can be taken either
orally or administered via an injection into a vein. Because the
bloodstream can carry the drug throughout the body, Chemotherapy
is often the preferred treatment when lung cancer has spread
well beyond the lungs. One problem associated with chemotherapy
is that it can also cause damage to healthy cells and the cells
that produce blood that reside within the bone marrow. Low blood
counts can lead to a number of different problems so
Vitamin E and Lung Cancer Prevention
(NC)-Lung cancer, the most preventative of all human cancers, remains the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women. Several studies have shown that vitamin E supplementation is associated with a lower risk of developing lung cancer in non-smokers. Unfortunately, the same benefit was not seen in smokers. The most effective health action for smokers is still to stop smoking.
It is believed that the beneficial effect of vitamin E is a consequence of its antioxidant role, which may be enhanced when taken in combination with
other antioxidants such as vitamin C, beta-carotene ..
Chemotherapy treatment must be closely monitored.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted Therapy is a relatively new treatment option that does
show promise. Instead of focusing on destroying damaged cells
(which can also damage healthy cells), these drugs instead are
designed to interfere with a cancerous cell's ability to grow.
Right now, Targeted Therapy drugs are given to patients only
after other treatment options have been attempted. And
unfortunately, Targeted Therapy has not been effective for all
patients.
Each lung cancer treatment option has benefits, risks and
frequently, side effects. Deciding which option is best is
something that only a doctor and patient can determine.
About the author:
Gray Rollins is a featured writer for LifeLungCancer.com. To
learn more about lung
cancer treatments and
href="http://www.lifelungcancer.com/lungcancerprevention/">lung
cancer prevention, visit our site.
Gray RollinsTreatment Options For People With Lung Cancer
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