Worried About Lung Cancer Care? – Here Are Some Improvements In The Treatment You Need To Know!

Its is known to all of us that cure for cancer is continuously advancing. Furthermore, the same goes for lung cancer. According to Gaurav Marwaha, MD, a radiation oncologist said that lung cancer care had grown a lot in the past few years. The kinds of treatment choices and combinations that existed only a couple of years prior are improved today. The most significant advancement is noticed in the survival rate from lung cancer. 

Improvements in lung cancer care

Any cancer is curable if it is detected at an early stage. Likewise, lung cancer can also be treated and cured if it is found at an early stage. Earlier, lung cancer screening played a significant role in detecting lung cancer in people who had the highest risk. 

Lung cancer screening is an easy, non-invasive test that incorporates a low dose CT scan of the lungs. If the screening detects lung cancer one needs to start the treatment to cure it. An individual needs to fulfil the following criteria for lung cancer screening: 

  • Your age must be above 55 years.
  • You’re a current smoker or have stopped in the most recent 15 years.
  • You have a “30 pack-year” history of smoking, determined by duplicating the number of packs smoked everyday times the number of years you’ve smoked.

“Through our comprehensive lung cancer screening program, we’re detecting far more early-stage lung cancers,” says Michael Liptay, MD, thoracic surgeon. “When we find lung cancer at an early stage, there is a greater chance that we’ll be able to cure it with a minimally invasive surgery. Many patients who have had early-stage lung cancer are now beating it thanks to early detection and screening.”

Lung Cancer in the Time of COVID-19: Challenges and Solutions - Pulmonology Advisor

Lung cancer is one of the leading cause of death among both men and women. It accounts for about 25% of all cancer deaths every year. Nonetheless, an ongoing article in the New England Journal of Medicine refers to a decrease in the disease in the past few years. 

According to medical oncologist Mary Jo Fidler, MD stated that reduction could be ascribed to both early discovery with lungs screening and new, successful treatments that were not accessible five or six years back. 

“Just in the last year, we’ve had over eight new FDA approvals for lung cancer patients,” says Fidler. “It’s been a fast and dramatic change, and it’s great for the patients to have so many effective treatment options.”

Genetics of Lung Cancer | MedGenome

Immunotherapies have played a significant role and have revolutionized outcomes for lung cancer patients. Immunotherapy works by releasing brakes which helps to attack cancer and fight it. 

Along with this, medication, treatment and technological advancement have also contributed a lot in curing lung cancer. These revolutions have also reduced the side effects of cancer treatment. Likewise, surgical therapies are still helping lung cancer patients to survive and lead a better life after the treatment. 

“We offer a number of innovative techniques to diagnosis and treat lung cancer in a minimally invasive way,” says Christopher Seder, MD, thoracic surgeon. “That includes video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), robotic surgery and interventional techniques that use computer navigation to biopsy small lung lesions or lymph nodes with great precision. And, by doing these procedures in a minimally invasive way, it allows patients to have a better overall experience, along with better outcomes, less pain and shorter hospital stays.”