Lung cancer has devastatingly took lives over the years. However a person with lung cancer must not lose hope or more so give up his or her life upon knowledge of such. At present, various treatments have already been developed to cure or impede lung cancer. Each lung cancer treatment is especially designed for different cases, stages or degrees of lung cancer.
The following are among the most common treatments for lung cancer.
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Surgery or Thoracotomy- Treatment of lung cancer via surgery may depend on the overall health condition of a person and the stage of the cancer. The size, type and the location of the tumor are determining factors whether surgery is an option or not. Surgery may be performed if the cancer is located merely in the lungs. However when the cancer has already affected the lymph nodes, outside the chest cavity or other parts of the body, surgery is no longer a considerable option. Usually thoracotomy is used to treat Stage I and II of lung cancer. Surgery may be used alone or may be aided with a combination of either chemotherapy or radiation.
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Wedge Resection and Segmentectomy- These two operations involve the removal of a small section of the lung. These type of operations may be performed when the cancer is still very small or at its earliest stage.
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Lobectomy – The right lung consists of three lobes, while the left lung consists of two. When the cancer is believed to be occurring in just one part of the lung, lobectomy, the process of removing one entire lobe of the lung, may be performed.
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Pneumonectomy- This treatment involves the removal of an entire lung. This treatment may be performed if the cancer is present in only one lung but its exact location may not be determined.
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Radiation or Radiotherapy- This lung cancer treatment involves the use of high-energy rays to decrease the size of the tumor, kill the cancer cells and prevent them from spreading or dividing provided that radiation damages the cell's genetic material. Radiation is usually a treatment option for patients with early stages of lung cancer who are not qualified to undergo surgery.
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Chemotherapy- This treatment uses powerful drugs to attack cancer cells. The drugs circulate in the bloodstream, killing fast growing cells, particularly the cancer cell as well as some healthy cells in the entire body. Dosage of the drug is carefully monitored in order to prevent the killing of healthy cells.
While there have already been various treatments for lung cancer, this does not mean that people should go on living unhealthy lives. Giving up smoking and avoiding unhealthy environments are still the most preferred option in preventing lung cancer.
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