Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer and is currently the leading cause of death worldwide. The disease often affects the elderly, but it can also be encountered at a young age. Cancer of the right lung is somewhat more common than that of the left lung, predominantly the tumor develops in the upper lobe.
Causes of disease
Surprisingly, a hundred years ago, this type of cancer was considered very rare. However, the steadily growing number of smokers has created an unprecedented surge in this form of cancer. Today, there is an active promotion of a he althy lifestyle all over the world, but despite this, smoking, and hence the constant negative effects of tobacco smoke on the lungs, remain the main causes that provoke the development of the disease. Carcinogens in polluted air also affect the occurrence of 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 developedhe alth systems fail to effectively combat the disease. The fact is that in the overwhelming majority of cases, lung cancer is detected only in the inoperable stage: metastases that have spread to other organs do not give a chance to survive. The complexity of diagnosis is explained by the asymptomatic course of the disease, in addition, the disease is often mistaken for a completely different pathology. And yet, competent specialists using the full range of modern diagnostic tools can detect a tumor at an early stage; in this case, the chances of recovery are significantly increased. A terrible disease must be treated comprehensively, and lung chemotherapy is an integral part of such treatment. Let's talk about it in more detail.
What is this
Chemotherapy for lung cancer is the targeted destruction of cancer cells with anticancer drugs. It can be used alone or combined with radiation and surgical treatment. At stage 4, lung cancer (metastases have spread to other organs) can no longer be eliminated through chemotherapy, but this method of treatment can be used to maximize the life of the patient. Much depends on the structure of the tumor. Thus, chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer is likely to be effective, since it is most sensitive to the effects of chemical drugs. But non-small cell cancer often shows resistance to these drugs, so patients with this tumor structure often choose a different treatment.
Influenceon the body
And one more pattern has lung chemotherapy: the drugs used have a detrimental effect not only on short-lived and rapidly dividing cancer cells, but, unfortunately, on he althy ones. In this case, the digestive tract, blood, bone marrow, and hair roots suffer the most. About the side effects that are inevitable when chemotherapy treatment is carried out, we will talk a little lower. Now let's talk about what drugs are commonly used to destroy the tumor.
Chemotherapy for lung cancer
This treatment option uses more than sixty types of drugs. The most common are anticancer drugs such as cisplatin, gemcitabine, docetaxel, carboplatin, paclitaxel, vinorelbine. Often, drugs are combined, for example, they practice the combined use of paclitaxel and carboplatin, cisplatin and vinorelbine, and so on. Chemotherapy of the lungs can be done by taking drugs orally or intravenously. Most often, drugs are administered by drip. The oncologist selects the dosage for each patient individually, based on the stage of tumor development and its structure. After completing a course of chemotherapy, a break in treatment is made for two to three weeks so that the body can recover. The courses are carried out as much as planned, however, each time the drugs are changed, because cancer cells very quickly and easily adapt to the toxins that act on them. Chemotherapy for lung cancer is accompanied byalso treatment to reduce side effects.
Complications
As already mentioned, along with the benefits that the body receives when using chemicals (due to the destruction and slowing down the reproduction of cancer cells), it is also harmed. Already after the first course of treatment, patients begin to experience difficulties: they develop diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, a feeling of severe fatigue, and ulcers in the oral cavity may occur. Hair after chemotherapy falls out rapidly, so many have no choice but to shave their heads. Then symptoms of oppression of hematopoiesis develop: hemoglobin and the number of leukocytes decrease, neuropathy appears, and secondary infections also join. Such side effects in patients often cause severe depression, which worsens the quality of treatment, so now doctors are actively using various methods to alleviate the condition of patients. For example, strong antiemetic medications are used to prevent nausea, and hair is cooled before being put on an IV to prevent hair loss.
Nutrition during this treatment
When chemotherapy is given for lung cancer, a special diet should be followed. There is no special diet for cancer patients, but they are shown to eat foods rich in vitamins and improve bowel function. The diet should include as many vegetables, fruits as possible (they can beeat both fresh and boiled, baked, in salads, steamed) and freshly squeezed juices. All this will become an excellent source of energy for the patient. In addition, you need to eat foods that contain protein (chicken, fish, cottage cheese, meat, eggs, legumes, nuts, seafood) and carbohydrates (potatoes, rice, cereals, pasta). Yogurts, dairy desserts, sweet cream, various cheeses are also welcome. Refuse during the implementation of chemotherapy should be from fatty and spicy foods, onions, garlic, seasonings. It's important to drink plenty of water, especially on chemical days, as the fluid helps flush out toxins from the body. With this treatment, patients change the perception of smells and tastes, so there may be no appetite, but in no case should you starve, you need to eat often and in small portions. It should be remembered that nutrition is part of the healing process, because food gives strength for recovery.
How to make chemotherapy easier
During chemotherapy procedures, drinking 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 to maintain a sitting position for several hours, you should not lie down, as this contributes to nausea. Chemotherapy for lung cancer will give the best results if the patient receives maximum positive emotions during such a period, this is almost the main condition for a successful recovery. Conversations withclose and dear people, reading funny books, watching entertainment programs will help to overcome the negative effects. The patient also needs to take lactic bacteria, for this active complexes such as "Bifidophilus" or "Floradofilus" are suitable, due to their intake, hair loss can be stopped. After completing the course of treatment, the drug "Liver 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, 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 much attention to combating the complications of this treatment, but there are still a lot of adverse effects of chemotherapy. But we must not forget that all of them are temporary, and will soon disappear, and in order to subsequently be a he althy and happy person, you can endure any difficulties!
