In any kind of cancer, a multidisciplinary treatment approach is essential for a treatment plan to be fully comprehensive and have higher chances of succeeding. Treatments methods for cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer are decided on the basis of the patient’s health, age and the stage. Non-small cell lung cancer cases are usually treated via surgery as the lining of the airways becomes thinner in stage 0 or the initial stages.
The procedures to treat the disease by surgery, provided the patient is healthy enough, are usually segmentectomy or wedge resection. If the cancer is in stage 0, a part of the lobe in the lung is usually removed or it is treated with sleeve resection. Also as a part of the treatment protocol, certain therapies are used, including photodynamic therapy, laser therapy and brachytherapy to cure cancer:
Stage 1
Now as cancer progresses to stage 1, the patient will need surgery to remove the lobe of the lung that has the tumor through a lobectomy. Other surgeries that might be conducted are sleeve resection, segmentectomy and wedge resection. In case the cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes, partial or complete removal of the diseased part is necessary. As this is stage 1, adjuvant chemotherapy might be a part of the treatment plan to prevent non-small cell lung cancer patients from relapsing, but this treatment method is not an option for all individuals. Non-small cell lung cancer treatments might involve a second surgery to remove any cancer cells left after the first one, followed by chemotherapy or radiation therapy as advised by the doctor. In case of serious health complications, surgery is a big no and instead, stereotactic body radiation therapy or radiofrequency ablation is used to correct and remove the cancer cells or tumor.
Stage 2
As cancer metastasizes and progresses to stage 2, there may be a possibility of the entire lung being removed via pneumonectomy. Ideally, surgery through lobectomy or sleeve resection is the usual way to remove the cancer cells even in stage 2. Also, chemotherapy and radiation are used before the surgery to help shrink the tumor.
Stage 3
If the staging of the disease is IIIA, a combination of radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery is used. This stage is very crucial and needs advanced treatments and therapies since it is much more difficult to cure cancer now. Ideally, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are conducted often to remove the cancer. Immunotherapy is also an option in case the patient can’t tolerate any of the above-mentioned treatments. Clinical trials are widely advisable in the IIIB phase as the cancer has metastasized to lymph nodes.
Stage 4
This stage of non-small cell lung cancer treatments sees doctors use chemotherapy as the primary method, and they may also use immunotherapy as a secondary treatment. Cancer in this stage has metastasized to distant organs and lymph nodes. A lot of the focus in this stage of cancer is on palliative care as medical professionals try to ensure a quality of life for the patients via proper care and therapies.
Foods to Eat and Avoid on the Paleo Diet
Commonly known as the “caveman” diet, the Paleo diet is all about food that used to be eaten during the Paleolithic age, which started over two million years ago. The Paleo diet limits foods that became common with the o
How to Naturally Soothe Dry and Flaky Skin
Winter weather can be beautiful with snow-covered trees and fun activities like sledding. The other thing winter brings with it is icy winds and dry weather. In fact, the lack of moisture in the atmosphere is what’s resp
Hair Gels and Their Side Effects
Be it any occasion or event, it is important to keep your hair properly styled, in place and manageable. This is achieved with the help of styling gels. The gels have been used since Ancient Egyptian times, and they woul
Top Smartphones for College Students
Is your child just starting out at university? Do you want your university-going child to start their college life well prepared in the digital age? A smartphone is a device that will keep them up-to-date with technology
Understanding SMA Type 0
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a type of a genetic disorder which is characterized by deteriorating motor neurons, wherein the nerve cells responsible for the movement of voluntary muscles get affected due to this diso
Top Smartphones for Users 50+
For many people smartphones have become more than useful, they have become a necessity. Folks use them for work, school, to take notes, plan vacations, and more. Smartphones make it easier for seniors to take advantage o
