What is Lung Cancer?
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"…they had told me here that where there's life, there's hope—and it's so true."
There are two major types of lung cancer: small cell and non-small cell - and different subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer. Each type grows and spreads in different ways, and is treated differently. Non-small cell is the most common form of lung cancer, growing and spreading more slowly than the small cell type, which is also known as oat cell cancer, due to its appearance under a microscope. Small cell lung cancer is more likely to spread to other organs in the body.
According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer of the lung and bronchus (hereafter, lung cancer) is the second most common cancer among both men and women, second only to colorectal cancer. Cigarette smoking accounts for nearly ninety percent of all lung cancers, and it is therefore the single most preventable cancer in existence. Quitting smoking is beneficial at all ages, and the earlier in life one quits, the greater the benefits. One study estimated that men who quit smoking by age 50 reduced their risk of lung cancer by almost two-thirds, compared to men who continued to smoke at age 75.
If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer, you should know that Cancer Treatment Centers of America provides you with the options and tools you need to focus on healing. Treatment for lung cancer depends on the stage of the disease, the location and size of the tumor, your age and general health, as well as other factors your doctor will discuss with you.
At Cancer Treatment Centers of America, we use many tools to help you fight lung cancer on all fronts. A powerful combination of traditional and new, innovative therapies are provided by cancer experts who work with you to determine the appropriate combination of therapies, which may include:
Fractionated Dose Chemotherapy divides a powerful dose of drugs into smaller doses, given over several days. This approach exposes cancer cells to the drugs for a longer period of time, while also seeking to reduce the unpleasant side effects often experienced with larger doses.
High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy for internal radiotherapy. These methods of precisely delivering radiation from the inside out spares surrounding healthy tissue and organs and may reduce the need for surgery.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) for the most advanced form of conformal radiotherapy. IMRT employs a powerful, advanced computer program that plans a precise dose of radiation in three dimensions based on individual tumor size, shape and location. IMRT allows for higher radiation doses than traditional radiotherapy methods, while sparing more of the surrounding healthy tissue.
In addition the therapies described above, CTCA enriches your treatment by offering complementary and alternative therapies such as naturopathic medicine, nutritional therapy, mind-body medicine, physical therapy and spiritual counseling. CTCA is with you every step of the way in what truly is the fight of your life.
