Treatment of lung cancer

Treatment of lung cancer like any other cancer, is a difficult task. Typically, there are three main methods of treatment: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy. Numerous research laboratories working to develop new tools and methods for the treatment of this disease. In the news periodically, there are headlines stating that invented a cure for lung cancer. This problem is quite relevant, because among all cancers lung cancer provides the highest mortality rate. And in the course of treatment most often it is not about how to cure lung cancer, and about how to alleviate the condition of the patient, prolong his life and improve its quality.

In many cases, the treatment depends on the type of cancer. For example, the treatment of small cell lung cancer involves surgery, only a quarter of patients due to its propensity to rapid metastasis extensive.

How to treat lung cancer?

The main method of treatment remains surgical. The operation involves the removal of the primary tumor and affected surrounding structures (lymph nodes, fatty tissue). If the tumor does not tend to metastasize, after surgery the chances of a patient to live for several more years significantly increased, especially in the early stages of the disease.

Radiation therapy for lung cancer, mostly is part of a combination therapy. As an independent method of treatment only applies in cases where operation is impossible or the patient refuses it. For radiation therapy uses special machines: gammatron, betatrons, linear accelerators. Treatment with these plants leads to a significant reduction of tumor size.

easy,

Localization of the tumor lung cancer may be Central and peripheral. Central much more common (70%). Central cancer when the tumor is localized in the large bronchi due to the irritation of its mucosa gives early symptoms. But peripheral lung cancer for a long time does not manifest itself in the form of symptoms as the pain receptors in lung tissue, where the tumor is localized, no.