What you need to know when you have non-small cell lung cancer - Part 2

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was written by Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Thi Minh Thuyen - Pathologist, Laboratory Department - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.
Cancer can start anywhere in the body. Cancer that starts in the lungs is called lung cancer. It begins when cells in the lungs grow out of control and crowd out normal cells.

1. Lung cancer treatments

There are many ways to treat lung cancer.
Surgery and radiation are local treatments that do not affect the rest of the body.
Chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapies and immunotherapy are systemic treatments. They can reach cancer cells almost anywhere in the body.
Treatment for lung cancer can include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. The best treatment plan for you will depend on:
Cancer stage Chances of treatment Your age Other health problems Your feelings about treatment and possible side effects can happen

1.1 Surgery If the cancer is at an early stage, the doctor may recommend surgery, along with other treatments. All or part of your lung may be removed. If surgery is given, it provides a better chance for cure.
Sometimes, fluid builds up in the chest (pleural fluid) and causes breathing problems. By placing a small tube in the chest, the fluid can be aspirated, and then medicine is put into the tube.
Most non-small cell lung cancers are treated with surgery and radiation and chemotherapy.
Side effects of surgery
Any type of surgery can have some risks and side effects. Ask your doctor what to expect and the possible risks. If you have some problems, let your doctor know, they can help you with any problems that come up.
1.2 Radiation Therapy Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays (such as X-rays) to kill cancer cells. In non-small cell lung cancer, radiation therapy is often indicated after surgery. Radiation therapy alone or treatment with chemotherapy.
Radiation therapy can also help relieve symptoms such as pain, bleeding, difficulty swallowing, or other problems that occur when lung cancer has grown very large or has spread to other areas such as bones. Radiation therapy is given in small doses every day for several weeks.
Side effects of radiation therapy
If your doctor recommends radiation therapy, talk about possible side effects. The most common side effects of radiation therapy are:
Changes in the area of ​​the skin where radiation was given Feeling very tired Most side effects improve after treatment ends, some may last longer.

1.3 Chemotherapy Chemotherapy - the short word for chemotherapy - is the use of drugs to fight cancer, either intravenously or as oral medication. These drugs enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body. Chemotherapy is often used to treat non-small cell lung cancer.
Chemotherapy is often used in cycles, after each cycle is a period of rest, giving the body time to recover. Treatment usually lasts for many months.
Chemotherapy side effects
Chemotherapy can make you feel very tired, upset stomach and hair loss. But these problems go away after the treatment ends.
There are ways to treat most of the side effects of chemotherapy. If you have side effects, talk to your cancer care team so they can help you.
1.4 Targeted therapy Targeted therapy can be used for lung cancer that has certain abnormal proteins. These drugs work mainly on cancer cells and do not affect other normal cells in the body. The side effects of this therapy are often different from those of chemotherapy.
1.5 Immunotherapy Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts your own immune system or uses man-made versions of parts of the immune system that attack lung cancer cells. There are many types of immunotherapy to treat lung cancer, which are usually given intravenously.
Side effects of immunotherapy
Immunotherapy can cause many different side effects depending on the medicine used. They can make you feel tired, upset your stomach, or have a rash. Most of these problems go away after treatment ends.
There are ways to treat most side effects caused by immunotherapy. If you have side effects, talk to your cancer care team for the best support.

2. In addition to the above methods, what other methods can lung cancer be treated?

When you have cancer, you may hear about other ways to treat cancer or treat symptoms. This may not always be the standard medical treatment. They can be vitamins, herbs, special diets and other things. You may have questions about these treatments.
Some of these methods are supportive, some are not, even harmful. Talk to your doctor about anything you're thinking about taking them, whether it's a vitamin, diet, or anything else.
Questions you can ask the doctor
What treatment do you think is best for me? What is the goal of this treatment? Do doctors think it can cure cancer? Will treatment include surgery? If so, who will do the surgery for me? What will the surgery be like? Will I also need other treatments? What are the goals of these treatments? What are the side effects from these treatments? What can I do about side effects I may have? Does the doctor know anything about special vitamins or diets that my friends tell me? How do I know if they are safe? What should I do to get ready for treatment? Is there anything I can do to make the treatment better? What is the next step?

3. What will happen after the treatment?

You will feel comfortable when the treatment is over. But it's inevitable that the cancer will come back (recur). Even if the cancer doesn't come back, people still worry about it. For many years after treatment ends, you will still need to see your oncologist for follow-up visits. You'll have screenings, blood tests, and possibly other tests to see if the cancer has come back.
For the first 2 to 3 years after treatment, you will be seen by your doctor and have a CT scan every 3 to 6 months. After that, you'll probably have a follow-up exam and CT scan every 6 months.
Having cancer and dealing with treatment can be difficult, but it can also be a time for you to see life in new ways. You can think about how to improve your health, talk to your cancer care team to find out what you can do to feel better.
You cannot change the fact that you have cancer. What you can change is how you live the rest of your life - make choices and feel the best you can.
Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the hospitals that not only ensures professional quality with a team of leading medical doctors, modern equipment and technology, but also stands out for its examination and consultation services. comprehensive and professional medical consultation and treatment; civilized, polite, safe and sterile medical examination and treatment space. Customers when choosing to perform tests here can be completely assured of the accuracy of test results.

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References source: American Cancer Society