Lung Cancer Treatments

Hi, I had two tumors one each in upper and lower right lobes. First, they did the tattoos and then the cast. The tattoo shows where the radiation is to be targeted. The cast is for your use only while receiving SRS so you don't move. You lay on the material and they wet it down, then shape it to your body. It dries quickly. Then you lay in it every time. I had 4 treatments for each tumor lasting 20 mins. each. They gave me a break in between. I did end up with esophagitis, very bad sore throat and hard to swallow. I used the magic mouthwash and it was gone within 10 days. I also used Prilosec for heartburn. I wasn't tired and never felt sick. My problem now is radiation scarring to the pectoral muscle and under the armpit. Though targeted, you have to remember that it has to go in and come back out somewhere. This was due to the location of the one tumor, so basically unavoidable. I have pain when I overdo it, but I'm doing very well overall. I started chemo within two weeks and I'm presently NED. Hi, I had two tumors one each in upper and lower right lobes. First, they did the tattoos and then the cast. The tattoo shows where the radiation is to be targeted. The cast is for your use only while receiving SRS so you don't move. You lay on the material and they wet it down, then shape it to your body. It dries quickly. Then you lay in it every time. I had 4 treatments for each tumor lasting 20 mins. each. They gave me a break in between. I did end up with esophagitis, very bad sore throat and hard to swallow. I used the magic mouthwash and it was gone within 10 days. I also used Prilosec for heartburn. I wasn't tired and never felt sick. My problem now is radiation scarring to the pectoral muscle and under the armpit. Though targeted, you have to remember that it has to go in and come back out somewhere. This was due to the location of the one tumor, so basically unavoidable. I have pain when I overdo it, but I'm doing very well overall. I started chemo within two weeks and I'm presently NED.

These drugs are being tested in clinical trials after surgery or chemoradiation in stage I to 3 lung cancer, but the evidence available so far do not demonstrate that they work in this setting. I do not recommend using these drugs in the curative-intent setting unless as part of a clinical trial. These drugs are being tested in clinical trials after surgery or chemoradiation in stage I to 3 lung cancer, but the evidence available so far do not demonstrate that they work in this setting. I do not recommend using these drugs in the curative-intent setting unless as part of a clinical trial.

Xalkori is very successful in causing tumor shrinkage in most patients whose tumors have an ALK fusion. Efficacy is usually measured by tumor shrinkage, time to progression or survival. Xalkori is very successful in causing tumor shrinkage in most patients whose tumors have an ALK fusion. Efficacy is usually measured by tumor shrinkage, time to progression or survival.

Cisplatin and alimta (pemetrexed) is a very reasonable adjuvant therapy, unless you had squamous type lung cancer. The choice of adjuvant therapy is an imprecise science, but the strongest evidence is for some regimen containing cisplatin, and avoiding pemetrexed in squamous cancer. Trials are underway to test the addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy. Cisplatin and alimta (pemetrexed) is a very reasonable adjuvant therapy, unless you had squamous type lung cancer. The choice of adjuvant therapy is an imprecise science, but the strongest evidence is for some regimen containing cisplatin, and avoiding pemetrexed in squamous cancer. Trials are underway to test the addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy.

The biggest difference that histology makes is in the determination of small cell versus non-small cell cancer. After that, pemetrexed chemotherapy has been shown to be ineffective in patients with the squamous type of non-small cell lung cancer. The biggest difference that histology makes is in the determination of small cell versus non-small cell cancer. After that, pemetrexed chemotherapy has been shown to be ineffective in patients with the squamous type of non-small cell lung cancer.

Patients with stage IV NSCLC are first treated with platinum chemotherapy which is a platinum drug (either carboplatin or cisplatin) plus another drug (Gemcitabine, Paclitaxel, Docetaxel or Alimta). At some point, unfortunately, patients will progress and their tumor will grow after the first type of chemotherapy is given. Generally at that point, a second line drug is used and the platinum doublet is abandoned.

There are three approved second line drugs (Tarceva, Alimta, Docetaxel) for NSCLC but their use is dependent on what a patient got in the first line. For instance, if a patient received Carboplatin and Alimta as a first line regimen, then the second line possibilities would be Tarceva or Docetaxel. Sometimes the drug Gemcitabine is also offerred. Unlike first line therapy, second line therapy is generally just one drug, not two. Response rates (the percentage of patients whose tumors shrink) is lower in the second line (only 10 to 15% of patients' tumors will shrink) depending on the patient the drug used. While those numbers are small, there is ample data that patients who go on to receive a second line drug live longer than those that don't receive any second line drug. Patients with stage IV NSCLC are first treated with platinum chemotherapy which is a platinum drug (either carboplatin or cisplatin) plus another drug (Gemcitabine, Paclitaxel, Docetaxel or Alimta). At some point, unfortunately, patients will progress and their tumor will grow after the first type of chemotherapy is given. Generally at that point, a second line drug is used and the platinum doublet is abandoned.

There are three approved second line drugs (Tarceva, Alimta, Docetaxel) for NSCLC but their use is dependent on what a patient got in the first line. For instance, if a patient received Carboplatin and Alimta as a first line regimen, then the second line possibilities would be Tarceva or Docetaxel. Sometimes the drug Gemcitabine is also offerred. Unlike first line therapy, second line therapy is generally just one drug, not two. Response rates (the percentage of patients whose tumors shrink) is lower in the second line (only 10 to 15% of patients' tumors will shrink) depending on the patient the drug used. While those numbers are small, there is ample data that patients who go on to receive a second line drug live longer than those that don't receive any second line drug.

Treatment options are dependent on a variety of factors including the stage, a patient's other medical conditions, and a patient's understanding of these options. For example, there are now certain conditions/situations where by stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) may be an alternative to surgery. Our physicians always take their time in going through all modalities and side effects with our patients so that they can make the most educated decision for themselves, and be comfortable with the treatment they decided on. Treatment options are dependent on a variety of factors including the stage, a patient's other medical conditions, and a patient's understanding of these options. For example, there are now certain conditions/situations where by stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) may be an alternative to surgery. Our physicians always take their time in going through all modalities and side effects with our patients so that they can make the most educated decision for themselves, and be comfortable with the treatment they decided on.