Cancer Information

Posts Tagged ‘Surgery for lung cancer’

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.

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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