It is estimated that there are approximately 235,760 lung cancer diagnoses in the United States every year, divided almost equally between men and women. It is considered the third most common cancer in America, but with early detection and treatment, hope is available. Lung cancer treatment Orange County-based and across the country will tell you that early detection is key. Learn more about the symptoms and treatment types for lung cancer.
Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Breathing and difficulties breathing even at acute levels are among the most common symptoms of lung cancer. Having shortness of breath and/or a persistent cough will be the first signs. There may also be signs of blood when coughing or blood in the mucus. Other symptoms include loss of appetite, lost weight, fatigue, and pain in the shoulders and back.
Surgical Treatment for Lung Cancer
The different kinds of treatment for lung cancer will vary depending on the stages, location of the tumor, overall health, and age of the patient. Smokers will often be encouraged to quit smoking before treatment.
For the early stages of lung cancer, surgery may be the only kind of treatment that you need. The kind of surgery you need will depend on how large the tumor is. You might just have the tumor removed, or you may undergo a pneumonectomy. That is a removal of the whole lung.
A lobectomy is not as advanced and will remove the lobe that has the tumor. Another surgical option is sleeve resection, where a small piece of the lung is removed. Any of these surgeries may involve the removal of the lymph nodes to make sure there is no cancer spreading elsewhere.
Chemical Treatment for Lung Cancer
Other forms of treatment for lung cancer include chemotherapy. This is to reduce the chances of the cancer coming back. Radiation is a more localized kind of lung cancer treatment. That aim is to kill the tumor and stop cancer growth.
Book a Consultation
If you would like more information or a second opinion on lung cancer treatment Orange County-based or elsewhere in the nation, call an oncologist to have your options explained.