Forms of Advanced Lung Cancer
A diagnosis of advanced lung cancer means the patient has a large tumor or the cancer has spread. This metastasizing process grows throughout the main body of the lungs, the respiratory airways or into the squamous cell of the lung lining. Advanced stage cancer patients have a lower survival rate, but can be treated with chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy.
Metastasizing
Metastatic cancer in the lungs is the action of malignant cells growing uncontrollably. It is important to receive aggressive treatment to slow the progress of the disease. Left uncontrolled, these same cells may spread the disease to other parts of the body and cause a secondary cancer. Symptoms in this advanced stage may include swelling of the lymph nodes and pain in the liver area. Painful headaches and disorientation may result if it spreads to the brain.
Cures and Treatment
To retard the spread of the metastasizing cells, doctors can implement chemo and radiation therapy, biological, hormone or cryosurgery. Doctors will also employ a combination of these protocols for better results. Biological treatment increases the body's ability to fight the malignant cells, or to assist the immune system during chemo or radiation treatments.
Hormone treatments add, remove or block certain hormones. Patients at risk from low hormone levels benefit from this therapy as it brings these levels back to normal. In some cases, glands are taken out to prevent production of a particular hormone. Another form of this treatment is called endocrine therapy.
Cryosurgery is a form of ablation used to kill the metastasizing cells. This surgery uses liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide for freezing infected tissue.
Classification
'The International Staging System' classifies advanced lung carcinomas based on two situations. If there is a primary tumor it is labeled T1 through T4, with T4 being a larger tumor. A metastasized or multiple tumor disease is labeled M1, M1a or M1b. Determining the stage is important for developing the treatment protocol and providing a prognosis.
Doctors determine the stage through physical examinations, x-rays, biopsy samples and blood tests. Although surgery is the preferred treatment for many cancers of the lung, advanced stages may require additional measures to prevent further spread and prolong the patient's life.
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