Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer

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Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment in which certain drugs are used to prevent cancer cells from dividing or killing them. It is one of the treatment procedures for lung cancer that is used for preventing or reducing the pain too. This treatment can be given to lung cancer patients along with other treatment options such as surgery and radiation.

In most cases, chemotherapy treatment is given by administration of injection by using what is known as a catheter, thin tube placed in large vein. It is a method by which the device can be placed in the vein for as long as needed for the procedure. Some of these drugs may also be given as a pill. The patient does not need to be hospitalised for chemotherapy. It may become necessary if the person's health is not up to it. It would be based on the kind of drugs given to the patient.

Although most of the chemotherapy medications are administered as an injection in the veins, some are given as chemotherapy medications. In general, two or more drugs are given in a combination therapy. Every three to 4 weeks, these drugs would be given. The drugs may be given four to six times.

For lung cancer, different types of medications can be used, the most common of them being cisplatin or carboplatin. These can be combined with some other medication too if needed. In some treatments involving chemotherapy, a more focused or targeted approach is made use of for lung cancer treatment.

There can be some side effects of chemotherapy too, and each of the medications has different side effects. The related factors such as general health, age, sex and others also play an important role in the incidence of lung cancer treatment side effects. These side effects can be managed much better nowadays with the advance of medical knowledge over the past few decades. The response of each patient to the treatment procedures of chemotherapy is different. Some may find less side effects while others may find their side effects improving or lessening with time.

The doctors know all about how to change the medication, i.e. when to change which medication in case of side effects. But they also need to be careful of the treatment procedure and that it leads to lessening of symptoms of lung cancer. That is why you should always tell all about your health condition to your doctor giving you chemotherapy treatment for lung cancer.


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