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Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer |
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A diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer can present a number of challenges, including learning about all the treatment options available. At Cancer Treatment Centers of America, we are committed to helping you understand your options and provide a caring, nurturing environment during the non-small cell lung cancer treatment process. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, there is hope. Please continue reading to learn more about lung cancer treatment at CTCA.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: An Overview
Lung cancer, including small cell and non-small cell lung cancer, is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in the United States, and non-small cell lung cancer accounts for nearly nine out of every ten cases. There are three main subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer: squamous cell, found centrally in the lung, and is generally linked to smoking; adenocarcinoma, found in the outer region of the lung; and large-cell undifferentiated carcinoma, which grows and spreads quickly, and can be found anywhere in the lung. The greatest risk factor for any sort of lung cancer is either smoking tobacco or exposure to tobacco smoke. Other non-small cell lung cancer risk factors include family history, age (the average age of people who get lung cancer is 70), and exposure to environmental carcinogens such as asbestos or radon.
Symptoms of non-small cell lung cancer include the following:
- Persistent cough;
- Chest pain;
- Hoarseness;
- Weight loss/loss of appetite;
- Bloody or rust-colored sputum;
- Shortness of breath;
- Chronic bronchitis or pneumonia.
It is important to remember that these conditions are often caused by problems other than cancer. However, early detection can lead to a more promising non-small cell lung cancer prognosis, so if have any of the possible symptoms, don't hesitate to visit your physician for testing. A number of tests are used in the diagnosis and staging of non-small cell lung cancer, beginning with a full physical examination. Further tests include chest x-rays, CT scans, PET scans, MRI scans, and biopsies. Thorough testing allows for a precise diagnosis, and subsequently to the creation of a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan.
Your Cancer Treatment Centers of America team will consist of a medical oncologist, accompanied by surgical and radiation oncologists if necessary. Your team will also include your case worker, who will monitor your treatment from admittance to aftercare, and will be available to address questions and concerns at any time during the process. Finally, a number of other practitioners will add their expertise to treating your cancer. Your team will work with you to develop a holistic plan for your non-small cell lung cancer treatment, selecting the best possible program from many available options.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment at CTCA
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, the number of treatment options can be overwhelming. Your team at CTCA will help you sort through the information overload to create an integrative plan suited to your unique needs. Our treatment options include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Surgery - Your doctors at CTCA will help you determine if surgery is the best choice for you, and if so, can establish which type of surgery will best treat your cancer.
- Chemotherapy - Chemotherapy involves the use of anti-cancer drugs. Your team at CTCA can offer a number of innovative methods to deliver chemotherapy that optimize benefits and decrease side effects.
- Radiation - Your doctors may recommend either internal or external radiation, or both.
- Targeted Drug Therapy - This type of non-small cell lung cancer treatment involves targeted drugs that interfere with cancer cell growth while sparing healthy tissue.
- Innovative New Therapies - CTCA works hard to develop and adopt new therapies to treat non-small cell lung cancer, including technologies like brachytherapy, which can considerably reduce your length of treatment, and Tomotherapy HI-ART, a radiation therapy that allows patients to be re-treated in previously radiated areas.
- Complementary Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment - Complementary or alternative treatments include nutritional support, naturopathic medicine, mind-body medicine, spiritual support, pain management, and physical therapy.
We understand that it is a difficult decision to leave your current care provider, but if you have any concerns about your current care program and would like to discuss what CTCA has to offer, please contact our Oncology Information Specialists. Our OIS team is available 24 hours a day, every day, and can assist you in your search for the right treatment facility for you. If you are seeking a second opinion about your non-small cell lung cancer prognosis, please don't hesitate to call us at 800-615-3055, chat with us online, or email us for a response within 24 hours.
Our lung cancer experts at CTCA practice Integrative Treatment, which is a treatment model that combines multidisciplinary therapies in ways that best suit each individual patient. We believe that you should be at the center of your treatment, and should be equipped to make informed decisions during the course of therapy. Your team will meet with you weekly to discuss and optimize your treatment program. Our goal is to put you in control of your care, your health, and, ultimately, your life.
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