Everything Guide to Treatment for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

There are a number of metastatic lung cancer treatment options, but one needs to find out the right information about the treatment that will work best for them. An effective treatment for non-small cell lung cancer can be administered by a health professional specialized in oncology, but you still need be well-informed about it. So we are going to talk a little bit about the different kinds of treatments available to you so you can get the help you need at the right time. So read on to find out more about this scary but interesting topic.

Source: Thinkstock/Nerthuz

Treatments for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer:

Surgery

A thoracic surgeon is a doctor who can perform a lung cancer surgery. The goal of this surgery is removing the lung tumor completely. The surgeon will also get rid of the nearby lymph nodes found in your chest, though a margin of your healthy lung tissue will be left behind.

Radiation

Radiation therapy for metastatic lung cancer treatment is also very common. This procedure uses high-energy x-rays or a different particle to achieve this goal. Your radiation oncologist can perform the famous external-beam radiation therapy; a radiation that uses a machine placed outside your body.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy will use drugs to remove cancer cells, which is done by stopping any cancer cell from dividing and growing over time. This type of therapy has been successful at helping tons of people all over the world. For cases that are not very advanced, oncologists will often opt for this  metastatic lung cancer treatment option.

Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy

Targeted therapy will target the tumor’s specific proteins, genes, or any tissue environment contributing to both its survival and growth. The treatment will limit the damage that any cancer cell gets while blocking these cancer cells’ spread and growth. Your doctor will find the best treatment for your particular situation by running tests to zero in on the proteins, genes, and many other factors in a tumor.

Abnormal proteins can also be found in large amount in any cancer cell for many types of lung cancers. Biologic therapy, also known as immunotherapy, is created to boost the body’s immune system to fight against cancer. This treatment will restore, target, or improve the immune system function by using special materials made in a laboratory or your body. Biologic therapy will try to block a pathway called PD-1 in your immune system to control the growth of cancer cells down the road.

As you can see, if you are in need of a treatment for non-small cell lung cancer, you have some options depending on your particular situation. Surgery can be the solution to this problem, and your doctor will work hard to remove the tumor completely from your body. Radiation can also be used by using x-rays of high energy to remove the cancerous cell in your body. Chemotherapy can also be used to stop the malignant cells’ growth and spread over time. Targeted therapy can also be used to target any cancer’s specific tissues, genes, and proteins. Immunotherapy will help your body divide cancer cells to stop their growth over time.

Ultimately, however, your doctor will let you know about the specific treatment that your body needs so you can get the solution you need.

Featured Image Source: Thinkstock/KTM_2016