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  • Lung Cancer

    Lung cancer is a significant health concern worldwide, being the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women. The understanding and treatment of lung cancer have indeed evolved over time, leading to improved strategies for diagnosis and targeted therapies.

     
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    <p>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthchoicesfirst.com/practitioner-type/oncologist">Oncologist,</a> discusses lung cancer symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options.</p>

     Oncologist, discusses lung cancer symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options.

  • What is a Lung Cancer

    Lung cancer is one of the most devious forms of cancer that we have. It is the leading cause of cancer-related death both in men and in women globally, so we really need to better understand lung cancer in order to better treat it.

                         

    lung cancer has come a far way from even a decade ago. What used to be classified as just two different types of cancer, that is, small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, we’re now better able to understand what is driving that cancer so that we can better target it. It is still incurable with the cancer is metastasized, or when it’s advanced, which we see in about half of our patients with advanced lung cancer or where the cancer has already spread. And when the cancer is spread we cannot cure it. However, we can offer patients effective treatment that can help control this cancer. And our understanding of the biology of lung cancer is really very helpful to try and understand if you can offer them targeted treatment that specifically target the lung cancer and, thereby, spare the normal, healthy tissues. So when we have patients who have advanced lung cancer, or metastatic lung cancer, the tools that we have in our arsenal include chemotherapy, include radiation, include surgery sometimes, but also now include this new generations of targeted drugs which can specifically target lunch cancer. But the remaining 40 to 50 percent of our patients will have cancer within the early stage setting. And in early stage lung cancer, especially non-small cell lung cancer, surgery is a important pillar – an important first approach. So usually patients are assessed by our surgeons to see whether they’re candidates for surgery, and after surgery some of those patients may be candidates for chemotherapy, what we call adjuvant chemotherapy. So that is the general approach for patients who have stage 1 or stage 2 lung cancer. Patients who have stage 3 lung cancer, we generally consider chemotherapy and radiation treatment, and for some patients, surgery is an alternate option. So we really encourage our patients to consider and educate themselves about the different treatment options, and discuss with their specialist what is the right treatment for their disease.

    So lung cancer, generally when it’s associated with very non-specific symptoms, such as cough, shortness of breath, sometimes blood in the sputum, and sometimes related to the spread of the cancer. So patients may have pain, may have headaches, may also have trouble walking because the cancer is spread to other areas. Often seeing a local family physician or a physiotherapist in conjunction with a registered dietitian and athletic therapist is a great option to take control of this condition.

    So the symptoms are non-specific, but what we do encourage our patients to consider, if they have a change in their cough, or if they have a change in their shortness of breath, or if they have a new symptom that is persistent – that is constant, that is not getting better – and lasting more than four weeks, they definitely need to inform their family care provider or their specialist to investigate this further.

    Now Health Network  Local Practitioners: Oncologist

  • In the past, lung cancer was broadly categorized into two main types: small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These classifications were based on histological and microscopic characteristics of the cancer cells. However, advancements in research and technology have allowed us to delve deeper into the underlying biology of lung cancer, leading to a more refined understanding of the disease.

    Currently, lung cancer is classified into several subtypes based on specific molecular and genetic alterations found within the cancer cells. These alterations can be identified through various diagnostic tests, such as genetic sequencing and biomarker analysis. The identification of these specific alterations has enabled the development of targeted therapies that can selectively inhibit the cancer cells' growth and survival, leading to improved treatment outcomes.

    For example, in NSCLC, mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene and rearrangements in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene have been identified as important drivers of the disease. Targeted therapies, such as EGFR inhibitors and ALK inhibitors, have been developed to specifically target these genetic alterations, resulting in more effective treatment options with fewer side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy.

    In addition to targeted therapies, immunotherapy has also emerged as a promising approach for treating lung cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as drugs targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) or its ligand PD-L1, have shown significant benefits in a subset of patients by enhancing the immune system's ability to recognize and attack cancer cells.

    Overall, the improved understanding of the molecular drivers of lung cancer has paved the way for personalized medicine approaches, where treatment can be tailored to the specific characteristics of an individual's cancer. This progress has significantly impacted the field of lung cancer research and has the potential to improve patient outcomes in the future.

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