LUNG CANCER TREATMENT

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women. Fortunately, incidence of lung cancer has been falling an average of 2.1% each year, with five-year survival rates increasing to 25% in 2021, according to the American Lung Association. At Personalized Hematology-Oncology, we are at the forefront of genetic testing, enabling us to develop a custom-tailored lung cancer treatment plan personalized for each patient.

There are three main types of lung cancer, and treatment depends largely on the type. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type. According to the American Cancer Society, it accounts for 80 to 85% of all lung cancer cases. Small cell lung cancer, or oat cell cancer, accounts for 10-15% of cases and is the most aggressive form of lung cancer. The third type, lung carcinoid tumors or lung neuroendocrine tumors, account for a much smaller percentage and typically grow slowly and rarely spread.

While there are a number of factors that may increase a individual’s risk of lung cancer, smoking is the number one risk factor. A patient’s risk of developing lung cancer increases with every cigarette and every year of continued smoking. Smoking cessation at any age will significantly lower a person’s risk of developing lung cancer. Even for those who do not smoke, exposure to second-hand smoke greatly increases risk of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases.

Lung cancer is often not detected until the later stages of development. Individuals who smoke or have had exposure to carcinogens need to be aware of the symptoms so that the cancer can be caught as early as possible.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer

• Shortness of breath or wheezing
• Persistent cough, bronchitis or repeated respiratory infections
• Fluid in the chest
• Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
• Chest pain
• Cancer in other parts of the body

Early detection is very difficult in most lung cancer cases, as symptoms typically do not arise until the tumor is in a more advanced stage. Diagnosis is typically performed with a chest CT scan or X-Ray. If a tumor is discovered, a needle biopsy of the lung can determine if the tumor is cancerous and what type of cancer is present.

The oncology doctors at Personalized Hematology-Oncology understand that lung cancer is different in every patient. That is why we develop a personalized approach to lung cancer treatment based on genome science. By creating a gene expression profile of the tumor, we can determine the best treatments to address the specific type of lung cancer.