Archive for the ‘Treatments Of Lung Cancer’ Category

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Common Treatments of Lung Cancer

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

In most cases, metastatic cancer to the lung is a sign that the cancer has spread into the bloodstream. Usually cancer will be present even in places not seen by CT scans. In these circumstances, removing the visible tumors by surgery usually is not much, so usually opt for chemotherapy.

Common Treatments of Lung Cancer

Sometimes when the primary tumor has been removed and the cancer has spread to only limited areas of the lung, lung tumors can be removed with surgery. However, the primary tumor should be curable lung tumors must be completely removed and the patient should be strong enough to undergo surgery and recovery.

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Diagnosis and Treatments of Lung Cancer

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

Diagnosis and Treatments of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer diagnosis is made by radiological examinations: X-ray Computed Tomography and especially (or CAT scanner) Chest, and confirmed with a biopsy.

Only 15 to 20% of lung cancers are detected in its early stages because the symptoms are delayed. In many cases the diagnosis is usually incidental, that is, by medical evidence that you had another purpose. When diagnosed with lung cancer, additional tests are performed to evaluate different tumor stage (if the initial or advanced) as well as lung capacity and general condition.

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Treatment Lung Cancer

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

treatment lung cancerMainly, there are three types of treatment and its use will depend on the type of lung cancer and the stage where you are.

If you are in an early stage can remove the tumor quirúrgicamente.Ahora if it has already spread is used to radiotherapy (high energy X rays) or a combination thereof and chemotherapy (drugs effective against cancer cells).

Treatment is essential because a patient with untreated lung cancer has an average survival of six months.

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Side Effects of Lung Cancer Treatment

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

Side effects of lung cancer treatment depend on the type of treatment, and may be different for each person. Side effects are often only temporary. Doctors and nurses can explain possible side effects of treatment and they can suggest ways to help relieve symptoms that may occur during and after the treatment.

Surgery for lung cancer is a major operation. After lung surgery, air and fluid tend to collect in the chest. Patients often need help turning over, coughing and breathing deeply. These activities are important for recovery because they help to expand the remaining lung tissue and removal of excess air and fluid. Pain or weakness in the chest and arm and shortness of breath are common side effects of surgery for lung cancer. Patients may take several weeks or months to regain strength and energy.

Chemotherapy affects both normal and cancer cells. Side effects depend largely on the specific drug and dose (amount of drug administered). Common side effects of chemotherapy are nausea and vomiting, hair loss, mouth sores and fatigue.

Radiation therapy, like chemotherapy, affects normal cells as well as cancer cells. Side effects of radiation therapy depend mainly on the body part being treated and the dose of treatment. Common side effects of radiotherapy are dryness and irritation of the throat, difficulty swallowing food, fatigue, skin changes at the site of treatment and loss of appetite. Patients receiving radiation to the brain may have headaches, skin changes, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, hair loss or problems with memory processes and thoughts.

Photodynamic therapy makes the skin and eyes sensitive to light for 6 weeks or more after treatment. It is recommended that patients avoid direct sunlight and bright indoor light for 6 weeks at least. If patients need to go outside, they must wear protective clothing, including sunglasses. Other temporary side effects of photodynamic therapy may be coughing, difficulty swallowing food and painful breathing or shortness of breath. Patients should consult with your doctor what you should do if they are blisters on the skin or it gets red or swollen.

Today, because of what has been learned in clinical trials, physicians can control, reduce or avoid many of the side effects of treatment.

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Lung Cancer Treatment

Monday, April 12th, 2010

Lung Cancer Treatment depends on a number of factors, including the type of lung cancer (small cell or small), the size, location and extent of the tumor, and the patient’s overall health. You can use many different treatments and combinations of treatments to control lung cancer or to improve the quality of life by reducing symptoms.

Surgery is an operation to remove the cancer. The type of surgery the doctor performs depends on the location of the tumor in the lung. An operation to remove only a small part of the lung is called a segmental or wedge resection. When the surgeon removes an entire lobe of the lung, the procedure is called a lobectomy. Pneumonectomy is the removal of an entire lung. Some tumors are inoperable (can not be removed by surgery) because of the size or site, and some patients can not have surgery for other medical reasons.

Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Even after it has been removed lung cancer, cancer cells may still be present in nearby tissue or elsewhere in the body. Chemotherapy may be used to control cancer growth or to relieve symptoms. Most anticancer drugs are given by injection into a vein (intravenously) or through a catheter, a thin tube is placed into a large vein and remains there for as long as necessary. Some anticancer drugs are given as pills or tablets.

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Side Effects of Radiotherapy

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Side Effects of Radiotherapy

Unfortunately, radiation therapy also produces side effects, although usually limited to the area where applicable. The appearance and intensity of these side effects depends on the technique used, the total radiation dose administered, the volume of the irradiated area and susceptibility and associated diseases of each patient.

Side effects of radiation are the result of an acute inflammatory process and / or chronic localized to the skin and organs exposed to radiation. One can distinguish between general side effects of radiotherapy treatment and specific treatment of lung cancer:

- General effects:
The most important overall effect is tiredness or fatigue. Often during radiotherapy the patient is more tired than usual. Usually the result of the combined effects of treatment itself, other associated treatments and commuting to the hospital. The fatigue is temporary and disappears some time after completion of radiotherapy.

Although in most cases you can maintain normal activity levels, rest after the daily session of radiotherapy and no intense efforts or activities which may increase tiredness.

- Specific effects of the treatment area:
* Skin reactions (radiodermatitis): The radiation causes skin irritation only in the treatment area. The skin of the treated area can be altered very similar to a sunburn, although it is a rare effect with current techniques. At two or three weeks after starting therapy may appreciate the same redness (erythema). As treatment progresses, the skin area is becoming more pigmented and dark coloration, which disappears in one or two months after completion of radiotherapy.

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What Is Radiotherapy?

Saturday, March 27th, 2010

What Is Radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy is the use of high energy ionizing radiation in order to stop the growth and division of cancer cells in the area where they are used. It is used as local therapy (in the area where the tumor) or locoregional therapy (when including also the nodes near the tumor).

In the case of lung cancer, external radiation is applied, ie, radiation is administered from the outside by a radiation-generating equipment (linear accelerator). The advantage of external beam radiation is not require admission to hospital or is painful for the patient, and is managed by specialists in radiation oncology.

Social relations, labor and patient’s family need not be affected by the fact be receiving this therapy. With external beam therapy radiation is not apparent at any time during or after treatment. Thus, once the daily treatment, the patient may be in contact with others, does not emit any radioactivity.

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Chemotherapy Side Effects

Friday, March 26th, 2010

Chemotherapy Side Effects

What are the most common side effects?
The most common side effects of chemotherapy include:
* Nausea and vomiting.
* Hair loss.
* Fatigue and malaise.
* Increased likelihood of bruising and bleeding.
* Anemia.
* Infections.

Other problems or symptoms that may occur chemotherapy are:
* Intestinal problems.
* Changes in appetite and weight.
* Sores in the mouth, gums and / or throat.
* Problems with the nerves and muscles.
* Dry skin.
* Irritation of the kidneys and bladder.
* Problems related to sexuality and fertility of reproductive organs.

Chemotherapy Does it hurt?
Many drugs used in chemotherapy to be administered directly into the blood, the vein or injection into muscle, causing a little discomfort.

Moreover, if the drug causes pain, burning, cold or other odd sensation, contact your doctor or nurse immediately, as there may be a small problem of administration.

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What is Chemotherapy?

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

What is chemotherapy?

It is called chemotherapy medication used to treat cancer. Sometimes this type of treatment is called colloquially just “chemo.”

The advantage – and problem – of chemotherapy is that it acts throughout the body, so that, in addition to destroying cancer cells in the tumor and those that have metastasized and have spread to other parts of the body away from the primary tumor ( original), it can also affect normal healthy cells.

The drugs used in chemotherapy kill rapidly growing cells throughout the body. The cause of side effects is precisely the harm done to healthy tissue, healthy cells.

Normal cells are most likely to be affected are:
* Blood-producing cells in the bone marrow,
* Cells in the mouth,
* The digestive tract (especially the gut),
* Reproductive system cells
* Hair follicles.

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Treatment For Every Stage Of Lung Cancer (II)

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Treatment For Every Stage Of Lung Cancer

Limited Stage
In general, chemotherapy is used as primary treatment, with the use of several drugs in combination.

With chemotherapy is used radiotherapy to the chest. Patients who respond well to initial treatment is administered, so preventive radiation to the head. This is because the brain is one of the sites where metastases frequently occur.

In most patients, these tumors resolve with treatment, but soon reappear becoming resistant to treatment. The survival rate of two years in the limited stage, is 40% to 50% but is reduced by 10% to 20% for five years.

Many studies are underway to test the effectiveness of other treatments such as immunotherapy or gene therapy.

Extensive stage
The prognosis at this stage is very bad if left untreated cancer. Chemotherapy may be used to treat symptoms and flatter short-term survival.

Treatment with two or more drugs can shrink tumors in about 70% to 80% of these patients. Radiation therapy is also used to control symptoms and prevent the occurrence of brain metastases.

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