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Chemotherapy for lung cancer
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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Chemotherapy for lung cancer is currently one of the most popular procedures. The fact is that lung cancer is the leading cause of death in the world.
Often this disease affects older people. Diagnosis of the problem at an early stage can help in solving the problem. Competent use of diagnostic measures and effective treatment give good chances of recovery.
Indications for chemotherapy for lung cancer
Indications for chemotherapy of lung cancer directly depend on the disease itself and its stage. There are a number of factors that influence this. First of all, attention is paid to the tumor size, stage of development, growth rate, degree of differentiation, expression, degree of metastasis and involvement of regional lymph nodes, as well as hormonal status.
Individual characteristics of the organism also play a special role. These include age, presence of chronic diseases, localization of malignant cancerous neoplasm, as well as the state of regional lymph nodes and general health.
The doctor always evaluates the risks and complications that treatment may cause. Based on all these factors, the main indications for chemotherapy are given. Basically, this procedure is recommended for people with cancer, leukemia, rhabdomyosarcoma, hemoblastosis, choriocarcinoma, etc. Chemotherapy for lung cancer is a chance for recovery.
Effectiveness of chemotherapy for lung cancer
The effectiveness of chemotherapy for lung cancer is quite high. But in order for the treatment to really give a positive result, it is necessary to carry out complex combinations. The effectiveness of modern treatment methods is in no way related to the severity of side effects.
Success during treatment depends on many things. Thus, the stage of the disease and the period when it was diagnosed play a major role. Naturally, one should not exclude the qualifications of doctors, the equipment of the oncology center, the awareness of the staff in solving such problems. After all, the effectiveness of treatment depends not only on drugs.
The use of chemotherapy plays an important role, in the selection of drugs and in the appointment of a particular treatment regimen, the histological structure of the tumor plays. The following drugs have proven themselves to be particularly positive: Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexate, Vincristine, Fosfamide, Mitomycin, Etoposide, Adriamycin, Cisplatin and
Nitrosomethylurea. Naturally, they all have side effects, which were described in the previous paragraphs. Chemotherapy for lung cancer has proven its effectiveness.
Chemotherapy course for lung cancer
The course of chemotherapy for lung cancer is compiled exclusively on an individual basis. In this case, they start from the structure of the tumor, the stage of development, the location and previous treatment. Usually, the course consists of several drugs. They are administered in cycles, with certain breaks of 3-5 weeks.
This "break" is necessary so that the body and immune system can recover after the treatment. During the chemotherapy course, the patient's diet does not change. Naturally, depending on the person's condition, the doctor makes some adjustments.
For example, if a patient takes platinum drugs, he needs to drink more fluids. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. In no case should you visit a sauna, because it removes excess moisture from the body.
It is important to understand that chemotherapy courses can increase the risk of developing colds. Therefore, patients are advised to give preference to herbal decoctions. During the chemotherapy course, the doctor regularly takes blood tests from the patient, conducts an ultrasound examination of the liver and kidneys. Women may experience changes in the menstrual cycle. Patients may suffer from insomnia, but this is a completely normal process.
The number of courses depends on the patient's condition and how well he or she is recovering. The optimal number is considered to be 4-6 courses of chemotherapy. In this case, chemotherapy for lung cancer does not cause serious harm to the body.
Chemotherapy for lung metastases
Chemotherapy for lung metastases depends on the immediate location of the tumor in relation to surrounding organs, tissues, and lymph nodes. The fact is that malignant metastases can form in almost any organ. They originate from cancer cells and are gradually carried by the blood or lymph flow throughout the body.
Chemotherapy for metastases is carried out with one or a combination of drugs. Taxanes (taxol, taxotere or abraxane), adriamycin or the immune therapy drug Herceptin are mainly used. The duration of treatment and possible side effects are clarified by the attending physician.
Among the drugs used in combinations, taxanes and adriamycin are also used. There are certain schemes of chemotherapy drugs. Usually, they are used in the following order: CAF, FAC, CEF or AC. Steroid drugs are prescribed before using taxol or taxotere in order to reduce their side effects. Chemotherapy for lung cancer should be carried out under the guidance of an experienced specialist.
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Chemotherapy for squamous cell lung cancer
Chemotherapy for squamous cell lung cancer has its own characteristics. The fact is that squamous cell cancer itself is a malignant tumor that occurs against the background of an epithelial tumor of the skin and mucous membranes, growing birthmarks and papillomas, has the appearance of a single node or redness in the form of a plaque, which grows very quickly.
Usually, such a disease is formed on the basis of skin cancer development, which carries a special complexity. A distinctive feature of this disease is rapid growth. The risk group mainly includes men over 40 years old. In women, this phenomenon is not so common.
Systemic therapy is used in cancer treatment. It includes the use of drugs such as Cisplatin, Methotrexate and Bleomycin. Treatment is carried out in parallel with radiation therapy. A combination scheme of drugs, including Taxol and distant gamma therapy, is also widely used. This improves the effectiveness of treatment and even leads to a complete cure.
The effectiveness of treatment depends entirely on the stage of the disease. If cancer was diagnosed early and effective treatment was started, then the probability of a positive outcome is high. Chemotherapy for lung cancer gives a person a chance for a full recovery.
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Chemotherapy for lung adenocarcinoma
Chemotherapy for lung adenocarcinoma is performed quite often. The fact is that adenocarcinoma is the most common form of non-small cell cancer of the bronchopulmonary system. It often develops from glandular epithelial cells. At the initial stage, the disease does not manifest itself in any way. It develops quite slowly, hematogenous metastasis is characteristic of it.
Most often, adenocarcinoma is localized in the peripheral bronchi, and in the absence of adequate treatment, it approximately doubles in size within 6 months. This form of cancer is more common in women than in men. The complexity of the tumor can vary.
Everything is removed with the help of serious surgical interventions. Naturally, all of them are combined with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. This significantly reduces the likelihood of relapse in the future.
All therapy is carried out using innovative equipment that minimizes the side effects of treatment. For the treatment of adenocarcinoma, not only traditional chemotherapy drugs are used, but also the most modern immunomodulators. Chemotherapy for lung cancer allows you to avoid consequences in the future.
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Chemotherapy regimens for lung cancer
Lung cancer chemotherapy regimens are a treatment method that is selected on an individual basis. Naturally, the chosen regimen does not guarantee a person's complete recovery. However, it does allow one to get rid of unpleasant symptoms and significantly slows down the process of cancer cell development.
Chemotherapy can be administered both before and after surgery. If the patient suffers from diabetes or other chronic diseases, the regimen is selected with special care. During this process, the anamnesis is fully taken into account.
An effective chemotherapy regimen must have certain properties. These include the level of side effects, which should ideally be minimal. The drugs must be selected with particular care. The fact is that several drugs are used simultaneously during chemotherapy. Together, they must interact normally and not lead to serious side effects.
The scheme that chemotherapy for lung cancer implies can be presented as a combination of drugs. In this case, the total efficiency is approximately 30-65%. Treatment can be carried out with one drug, but in this case the appearance of a positive effect is significantly reduced.
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Chemotherapy drugs for lung cancer
Lung cancer chemotherapy drugs are anti-tumor agents that work to destroy and completely eliminate cancer cells. There are two types of chemotherapy that can be used to treat the disease. The first option involves eliminating cancer with one drug. The second type of treatment involves using several drugs.
Today, there are many drugs that are aimed at eliminating cancer and its consequences. There are several main types that are effective in a certain phase and have an individual mechanism of action.
Alkylating agents. These are medications that act on cancer cells at the molecular level. These include Nitrosoureas, Cyclophosphamide, and Embiquine.
Antibiotics. Many drugs in this class have antitumor activity. They are capable of destroying cancer cells at different stages of their development.
Antimetabolites. These are special drugs that can block metabolic processes in cancer cells. As a result, this leads to their complete destruction. Some of the most effective of this kind are: 5-fluorouracil, Cytarabine and Methotrexate.
Anthracyclines. Each drug in this group contains certain active ingredients that affect cancer cells. These medications include: Rubomycin and Adriblastin.
Vinca alkaloids. These are anticancer drugs based on plants. They are capable of disrupting the division of cancer cells and completely destroying them. This group includes such drugs as Vindesine, Vinblastine and Vincristine.
Platinum preparations. They contain toxic substances. Their mechanism of action is similar to alkylating agents.
Epipodophyllotoxins. These are common antitumor drugs that are synthetic analogues of the active substances of mandrake extract. The most popular are Tniposide and Etoposide.
All the above-described drugs are taken according to a certain scheme. This issue is decided exclusively by the attending physician depending on the person's condition. All medications cause side effects in the form of allergic reactions, nausea and vomiting. Chemotherapy for lung cancer is a complex process that requires compliance with certain rules.
Contraindications to chemotherapy for lung cancer
Contraindications to lung cancer chemotherapy, as well as indications, depend on many factors. Thus, attention is paid to the stage of the disease, the localization of the tumor and the individual characteristics of the patient's body.
There are a number of contraindications, in which chemotherapy treatment should not be carried out under any circumstances. Thus, this is intoxication of the body. When an additional drug is administered, a very strong reaction may occur, which will bring exclusively negative consequences for a person. Chemotherapy cannot be carried out in case of metastasis to the liver. If a person has a high level of bilirubin, then this procedure is also prohibited.
Chemotherapy is not performed in case of metastasis to the brain and in the presence of cachexia. Only an oncologist can determine the possibility of such treatment after conducting special examinations and studying the results obtained. After all, chemotherapy for lung cancer can cause serious harm to the body.
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Side effects of chemotherapy for lung cancer
Side effects of lung cancer chemotherapy are not excluded. Moreover, they occur in almost 99% of cases. Perhaps, this is the main and only disadvantage of this type of treatment. The fact is that the side symptoms negatively affect the entire body.
Chemotherapy mainly affects the cells of the hematopoietic system and blood. It has a strong effect on the gastrointestinal tract, nose, hair follicles, appendages, nails, skin and oral mucosa. But unlike cancer cells, these can easily recover. Therefore, negative side effects disappear immediately after the drug is discontinued.
Some side effects of chemotherapy go away quickly, but others last for several years or appear after several years. There are several main side effects. So, osteoporosis mainly begins to manifest itself. It occurs against the background of taking such drugs as Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexate and Fluorouracil.
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are in second place. This is because chemotherapy affects all cells in the body. These symptoms disappear immediately after the procedure is stopped.
Hair loss is quite common. After a course of chemotherapy, hair may be lost partially or completely. Hair growth is restored immediately after treatment is stopped.
Side effects on the skin and nails are quite common. Nails become brittle, skin shows persistent sensitivity to temperature changes.
Fatigue and anemia are common side effects. This occurs due to a decrease in red blood cells. Infectious complications are also possible. The fact is that chemotherapy has a negative effect on the body as a whole and suppresses the immune system.
Blood clotting disorder occurs due to chemotherapy treatment of blood cancer. Stomatitis, changes in taste and smell, drowsiness, frequent headaches and other consequences often manifest themselves. All these negative effects can be caused by chemotherapy for lung cancer.
Consequences of chemotherapy for lung cancer
Consequences of chemotherapy for lung cancer are not excluded. The first thing that suffers is the human immune system. It needs a lot of time to fully recover. While it is in a vulnerable state, various viruses and infections can penetrate the human body.
Chemotherapy drugs destroy cancer cells or slow down their reproduction. But despite this positive side of the issue, there are also negative consequences. So basically everything manifests itself in the form of negative phenomena. This can be nausea, vomiting, intestinal disorders and severe hair loss. Rather, this refers to side effects, but it can be safely attributed to the consequences.
Over time, signs of hematopoiesis suppression may develop. This manifests itself in the form of a decrease in the number of leukocytes and hemoglobin. Neuropathy and secondary infection may occur. That is why the period after chemotherapy is one of the most difficult. A person needs to restore his own body and at the same time prevent the development of serious consequences. After chemotherapy for lung cancer is completed, the patient will begin to feel better.
Complications of chemotherapy for lung cancer
Complications of chemotherapy for lung cancer almost always occur. After all, this type of treatment significantly weakens the body and makes it vulnerable to infections from the outside.
Many drugs used in chemotherapy effectively fight cancer cells and subsequently slow down their development. After which their complete destruction occurs. But, despite such positive dynamics, it is almost impossible to get rid of complications. More precisely, to avoid their occurrence.
The first thing a person starts feeling is weakness. Then headaches, nausea, vomiting and stomach upset join in. Hair may start falling out, a person feels constant fatigue, and mouth ulcers appear.
Over time, signs of hematopoiesis suppression begin to develop. Until recently, such complications caused depression in people. All this significantly worsened the effectiveness of treatment. Today, antiemetic drugs have begun to be used effectively, hair cooling has been used to prevent hair loss, etc. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid of the consequences that chemotherapy for lung cancer can cause.
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Nutrition during chemotherapy for lung cancer
Nutrition during chemotherapy for lung cancer does not have any special features. Naturally, each doctor is free to make his own adjustments depending on the patient's condition and the medications taken.
So, nutrition for lung cancer should be balanced. It is not recommended to eat fatty and spicy foods, as well as seasonings, onions and garlic. It is necessary to work on improving bowel function. To do this, the daily diet should be supplemented with fruits, vegetables and freshly squeezed juices. They can be consumed in absolutely any form. In order for the body to recover faster, it is recommended to eat cottage cheese and other fermented milk products, chicken, fish, eggs, meat, legumes and nuts. If meat causes an unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth, it is worth cooking it with special sauces.
To replenish the body with carbohydrates, it is worth giving preference to porridge, potatoes, rice and pasta. It is recommended to eat various cheeses, dairy desserts and sweet cream. It is important to constantly drink a lot of good quality liquid. This will allow you to remove toxic substances from the body.
Nutrition for cancer patients should be specific. After all, it is, in fact, an important part of the entire treatment process. Naturally, the diet should be composed by doctors and nutritionists. Chemotherapy for lung cancer requires adherence to certain rules for eating certain foods.