Treatment of Lung Cancer
Medical innovation has brought about many advancements in treating lung cancer. Speak to your doctor to understand which option is best suited for you.
Credit: Daphne Iking
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy involves helping the immune system fight cancer. Immunotherapy works with the body’s natural immune system to enable it to identify and destroy cancer cells on its own.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy employs the use of anti-cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy may also be used before a surgery to shrink the tumor, destroy remaining cancer cells after surgery or radiation, or make other therapies like radiation more effective.
Radiotherapy
A traditional method of treating cancer, radiotherapy is the use of high-energy radioactive waves to destroy cancer cells. Typically, radiotherapy is used to shrink tumors and help to control symptoms.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted Therapy uses a class of drugs that stop the key molecules that help cancer cells grow and spread and is often used for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), either along with chemotherapy or on its own.
Surgery
While surgery is the main treatment for lung cancer, the need for surgery depends on the stage, size and location of the cancer in the lung as well as the patient’s fitness for surgery.
Other Therapies
Other Therapies, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), laser therapy, microwave ablation, are available for treatment of lung cancer or its symptoms and may be used in conjunction with chemotherapy and other standard therapies.
