Lung cancer is a serious cancer that is currently the leading cause of death in the world. The disease often affects older people, but it can also be encountered at a young age. Cancer of the right lung is more common than the left, mainly a tumor develops in the upper lobe.
Causes of the disease
Surprisingly, a hundred years ago this type of oncology was considered very rare. However, a steadily increasing number of smokers has given rise to an unprecedented surge in this form of cancer. Today, active propaganda of a healthy lifestyle is being carried out all over the world, but in spite of this, smoking, and, therefore, the constant negative effect of tobacco smoke on the lungs, remains the main reasons provoking the development of the disease. Carcinogens in polluted air also affect lung cancer, but to a much lesser extent than tobacco smoke.
Diagnostic Features
Every year, a huge number of people die from this form of oncology. Even in countries with the most developed health care systems, it is not possible to deal effectively with this ailment. The fact is that in the vast majority of cases lung cancer is detected only in an inoperable stage: metastases that spread to other organs do not give a chance to survive. The complexity of the diagnosis is explained by the asymptomatic course of the disease, in addition, often the disease is taken for a completely different pathology. And yet, competent specialists using a full range of modern diagnostic tools can detect a tumor at an early stage; in this case, the chances of recovery are greatly increased. The terrible disease must be treated comprehensively, and lung chemotherapy is an integral part of this treatment. Let's talk about it in more detail.
What it is
Chemotherapy for lung cancer involves the targeted destruction of cancer cells using anticancer drugs. It can be used independently or combined with radiation and surgical treatment. At stage 4, lung cancer (metastases spread to other organs) cannot be eliminated by chemotherapy, however, this treatment method can be used to maximize the patient's life. Much depends on the structure of the tumor. So, chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer is likely to be effective because it is most sensitive to the effects of chemical drugs. But non-small cell cancer often shows resistance to these drugs, so for patients with this structure of the tumor, they often choose a different treatment.
Effect on the body
Chemotherapy of the lungs has one more regularity: the drugs used have a detrimental effect not only on short-lived and rapidly dividing cancer cells, but, unfortunately, also on healthy ones. At the same time, the digestive tract, blood, bone marrow, and hair roots are most affected. We will talk about side effects that are inevitable when chemotherapy is given, a little later. Now let's talk about which drugs are usually used to destroy the tumor.
Chemotherapy for lung cancer
With this treatment option, more than sixty types of drugs are used. The most common anticancer drugs are cisplatin, gemcitabine, docetaxel, carboplatin, paclitaxel, vinorelbine. Often, medicines are combined, for example, the combined use of paclitaxel and carboplatin, cisplatin and vinorelbine and so on is practiced. Chemotherapy of the lungs can be done by taking the drugs orally or intravenously. Most often, drugs are administered dropwise. The oncologist selects the dosage for each patient individually, based on the stage of development of the tumor and its structure. After a course of chemotherapy, a break in treatment is made for two to three weeks, so that the body can recover. There are as many courses as planned, but each time the drugs are changed, because the cancer cells adapt very quickly and easily to the toxins that affect them. Chemotherapy for lung cancer is also accompanied by treatment aimed at reducing side effects.
Complications
As already mentioned, along with the benefits that the body receives when using chemicals (due to the destruction and slowdown of the multiplication of cancer cells), it is also harmed. After completing the first course of treatment, patients begin to experience difficulties: they develop diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, a feeling of extreme fatigue, and oral ulcers may occur. Hair after chemotherapy rapidly drops out, so many have no choice but to shave baldly. Then the symptoms of inhibition of blood formation develop: hemoglobin and white blood cell count decrease, neuropathy appears, and secondary infections also join. Such side effects in patients often cause severe depression, which affects the quality of treatment, so now doctors are actively using various methods to alleviate the condition of patients. For example, to prevent nausea, potent antiemetic medications are used, and to avoid hair loss, they are cooled before dropping.
Nutrition during such treatment
When chemotherapy for lung cancer is performed, a special diet should be followed. A special diet for cancer patients is not provided, but they are shown to eat foods rich in vitamins and improve bowel function. It is necessary to include as many vegetables and fruits as possible in the diet (they can be eaten both fresh and boiled, baked, in steamed salads) and freshly squeezed juices. All this will be an excellent source of energy for the patient. In addition, you need to eat foods containing protein (chicken, fish, cottage cheese, meat, eggs, legumes, nuts, seafood) and carbohydrates (potatoes, rice, cereals, pasta). Yoghurts, dairy desserts, sweet cream, various cheeses are also welcome. Refuse during chemotherapy should be from fatty and spicy foods, onions, garlic, seasonings. It is very important to drink a lot of water, especially during the days of taking chemicals, since the liquid helps to remove toxins from the body. With this treatment, patients change their perception of smells and tastes, so there may be no appetite, however, in no case should you starve, you need to eat often in small portions. It should be remembered that nutrition is part of the healing process, because food provides strength for recovery.
How to transfer chemotherapy easier
During chemotherapy procedures, the use of grape or apple juice helps to overcome an attack of nausea, and it is strictly forbidden to drink sparkling water at such moments. After eating, it is recommended that you maintain a sitting position for several hours, you should not go to bed, as this contributes to the occurrence of nausea. Chemotherapy for lung cancer will give the best results, if the patient during this period will receive a maximum of positive emotions, this is almost the main condition for a successful recovery. Conversations with relatives and friends, reading fun books, watching entertaining programs will help to overcome the negative effects. The patient also needs to take milk bacteria, for this, active complexes such as Bifidofilus or Floradofilus are suitable, due to their intake, hair loss can be stopped. After completing the course of treatment, the drug “Laver 48” is prescribed, it helps to restore the liver and increase hemoglobin.
Treatment results
The effectiveness of chemotherapy for lung cancer will be the higher, the earlier the disease was detected. Much also depends on the characteristics of the body, the qualifications of the attending physicians, and the equipment of the oncological center where the treatment is performed. Many patients associate the effectiveness of chemotherapy with the severity of side effects, but this is fundamentally wrong. Modern oncology pays a lot of attention to the fight against the complications of this treatment, and still there are a lot of adverse effects of chemotherapy . But we must not forget that they are all temporary, and will soon disappear, and in order to subsequently be a healthy and happy person, you can endure any difficulties!