| Lung cancer is one of the most common forms of | | | | cancer recurring. The kind of chemotherapy used |
| cancer. If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer, | | | | depends on the type of cancer and where it is |
| the next thing you should do is to discuss with your | | | | located in the lungs. Radiotherapy is often used along |
| doctors the most suitable lung cancer treatment for | | | | with chemotherapy. |
| you. There are various options available for the | | | | Another form of lung cancer treatment besides |
| treatment of lung cancer, but you will need to | | | | these two is targeted therapy. Gefitinib is one such |
| discuss these options carefully with your doctors and | | | | drug that targets the tyrosine kinase domain of the |
| family before making a decision on the treatment | | | | epidermal growth factor receptor. This has shown to |
| method. Please bear in mind that the earlier the | | | | increase the chances of survival in many of the |
| cancer is treated, the better will be your prognosis | | | | people whom have taken this drug. Erlotinib is |
| from this deadly disease. | | | | another drug that has been shown to increase the |
| Surgery is obviously one of the more effective | | | | survival rate in cancer patients. Both of these drugs |
| treatment for removing the cancer from the body, | | | | have been shown to be very effective in females, |
| however it all depends on how far along the cancer | | | | Asians and non-smokers. |
| is. CT and PET scans are used to determine is the | | | | Becoming diagnosed with lung cancer is a very |
| cancer can be removed through surgery, or if it is | | | | serious thing to be told. There are several ways the |
| too far along and has spread to other areas making it | | | | cancer can be treated now but it is important to |
| harder to perform surgery. Blood tests and | | | | know all the lung cancer treatment options that are |
| spirometry or lung function testing are also used to | | | | available to you. It is best to get surgery if at all |
| see if the patient can be operated on. Surgical | | | | possible, but if the cancer has spread into other |
| procedures include wedge resction or partial removal | | | | areas, surgery is out of the question. Then |
| of the lobe, a lobectomy or removal of one lobe, a | | | | chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy |
| bilobectomy or removal of two lobes, and | | | | can be considered. You should also explore the |
| pneumonectomy or the removal of an entire lung. A | | | | possibility of using other alternative cancer |
| lobectomy is the most common form of surgery | | | | treatments. However, it is important for you to |
| because it reduces the chance of the cancer | | | | speak with your doctor the instance you have |
| returning. | | | | gotten lung cancer. |
| Chemotherapy is also used to reduce the risk of the | | | | |