Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women — and one of the most treatable when it is found early. At Mission Oncology Partners, your plan is built around the type of lung cancer you have and where it sits.
About lung cancer
Lung cancer takes one of three main forms. Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for about 85 percent of cases. Small cell lung cancer accounts for about ten to 15 percent. Lung carcinoid tumors make up less than five percent.
It is the second most common cancer in both men and women, and lung cancers claim more lives than prostate, breast, ovarian and colon cancers combined. That is the hard part. The encouraging part is that there are many treatments available today — radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and others — and they are used together more effectively than ever.
Smoking is the leading cause. Secondhand smoke, radon gas, asbestos, air pollution, existing lung disease and a family history of lung cancer all raise your risk as well. Not smoking, avoiding secondhand smoke, eating a diet full of fruits and vegetables, and testing your home for radon are the steps that make the biggest difference.
Signs and symptoms
About a quarter of people diagnosed with lung cancer have no symptoms at all beforehand. Most, though, notice one or more of the following.
- A cough that does not go away
- Coughing up blood
- Hoarseness
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty swallowing
- Chest pain
- Weight loss you cannot explain
When to call
These symptoms have many possible causes, most of them not cancer. But they are worth a conversation. If something has changed and hasn't resolved, contact your primary care physician — early evaluation is what makes treatment straightforward.
How we treat it
Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer, where the tumor sits and a number of other factors. If the cancer is early stage and the tumor is localized, surgery may be curative. In more advanced cases, radiation and chemotherapy are often recommended — radiation treats you noninvasively, using high-energy particles or waves to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells, while chemotherapy uses a combination of drugs to slow or stop cancer cells from growing.
Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3-D CRT)
3-D CRT builds an individualized digital model of your anatomy and your tumor. Your physician uses that model to shape the beams around the tumor's actual form. It is a consistent, effective way to deliver an exact dose to a lung tumor while limiting what reaches the tissue around it.
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
IMRT varies the strength of the radiation across the treatment field, so the dose conforms tightly to the shape of the tumor. It is one of the two most common forms of radiotherapy used for lung cancer, and it is particularly useful when the tumor sits near the heart, esophagus or spinal cord.
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
SBRT delivers a high dose to a small, well-defined target with a high degree of precision, over a small number of sessions. It is often the right choice for an early-stage tumor that is localized, and for patients who are not good candidates for surgery.
Proton beam therapy
Proton beam therapy is a form of external beam radiation that uses high-energy proton beams to destroy cancer cells. Your physician will tell you whether it is appropriate for your case and where it is available to you.
What treatment involves
Before treatment begins you will come in for a simulation session. We map your anatomy and mark your position so that every treatment afterward is delivered to exactly the same place, as precisely and accurately as possible.
Radiotherapy is a daily treatment. For small cell lung cancer, your physician may recommend treatment twice a day. Your physician will tell you how many sessions your plan calls for and how long the full course will run before you start — and you can ask about any part of it at any time.
Possible side effects
Side effects are usually temporary and typically resolve shortly after treatment ends. Tell your care team about any discomfort — managing it is part of the treatment, not an interruption to it.
- Tiredness that builds over the course of treatment
- Skin changes in the treated area — dryness, redness or tenderness
- Trouble or discomfort swallowing
- Changes in appetite, or food tasting different than it used to
Caring for yourself during treatment
- Rest when you need to, and don't hesitate to ask for help.
- Follow your care team's advice — and ask when anything is unclear.
- Tell us about every medication, vitamin and supplement you take.
- Eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids.
- Treat skin in the treatment area gently: no sun, no hot or cold packs, and only lotions your team has approved.
- Lean on support groups, family and friends. Coping is part of treatment.
Trusted resources
- American Lung Association — www.lungusa.org
- Lungcancer.org — www.lungcancer.org
- Lung Cancer Alliance — www.lungcanceralliance.org
- RT Answers (patient brochures) — www.rtanswers.org
Clinical background adapted from materials by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (rtanswers.org) and the American Cancer Society.
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