Lung Cancer Treatment Options
Lung Cancer Treatment Options
Researchers are constantly looking for better ways to treat lung cancer, relieve symptoms, and improve patients' quality of life. New combinations of chemotherapy, new forms of radiation, and the use of drugs that make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation are being studied.
Experimental laser surgery has successfully reduced or eliminated tumors obstructing bronchi, thereby improving breathing. Radiofrequency ablation uses high-energy radio waves to heat and destroy small tumors in those who cannot go through surgery. More long-term data is needed.
Drugs that target a growth factor receptor, such as erlotinib (Tarceva) and afatinib (Gilotrif) and the tumor blood supply bevaciuzmab (Avastin) and ramucirumab (Cyramza) have shown significant activity in helping to control advanced lung cancer.
The drug Opdivo (nivolumab) has been found to be effective in treating patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer who have already undergone platinum-based chemotherapy. Opdivo targets the proteins in the body that sometimes keep the body’s own immune system from fighting cancerous cells.
There are also drugs called crizotinib (Xalkori) and certinib (Zykadia) that attack a certain molecule seen in lung cancers. It is now common for patients to be tested to determine if these drugs can effectively fight their type of lung cancer.
If you've had lung cancer surgery, your nurse or doctor can show you special exercises to improve your breathing and strengthen your chest muscles. You can relieve skin irritation associated with radiation therapy by wearing loose clothes, protecting your chest from the sun, and using aloe vera or vitamin E cream. However, avoid using other skin lotions unless approved by your doctor.
Lung Cancer Treatment
In this article
- What Are the Treatments for Lung Cancer?
- Lung Cancer Surgery
- Radiation and Chemotherapy After Lung Cancer Surgery
- Chemotherapy and Combination Therapy
- Other Lung Cancer Treatments
- At-Home Care for Lung Cancer
Other Lung Cancer Treatments
Researchers are constantly looking for better ways to treat lung cancer, relieve symptoms, and improve patients' quality of life. New combinations of chemotherapy, new forms of radiation, and the use of drugs that make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation are being studied.
Experimental laser surgery has successfully reduced or eliminated tumors obstructing bronchi, thereby improving breathing. Radiofrequency ablation uses high-energy radio waves to heat and destroy small tumors in those who cannot go through surgery. More long-term data is needed.
Drugs that target a growth factor receptor, such as erlotinib (Tarceva) and afatinib (Gilotrif) and the tumor blood supply bevaciuzmab (Avastin) and ramucirumab (Cyramza) have shown significant activity in helping to control advanced lung cancer.
The drug Opdivo (nivolumab) has been found to be effective in treating patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer who have already undergone platinum-based chemotherapy. Opdivo targets the proteins in the body that sometimes keep the body’s own immune system from fighting cancerous cells.
There are also drugs called crizotinib (Xalkori) and certinib (Zykadia) that attack a certain molecule seen in lung cancers. It is now common for patients to be tested to determine if these drugs can effectively fight their type of lung cancer.
At-Home Care for Lung Cancer
If you've had lung cancer surgery, your nurse or doctor can show you special exercises to improve your breathing and strengthen your chest muscles. You can relieve skin irritation associated with radiation therapy by wearing loose clothes, protecting your chest from the sun, and using aloe vera or vitamin E cream. However, avoid using other skin lotions unless approved by your doctor.
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