Therapies

Hereafter we give a general picture of the major therapies presently used in the treatment of lung cancer. This general view is merely for information. The choice of the different options is made by the oncologist on a case-by-case basis, depending on the type and stage of the tumour to be treated.

Surgery
Total or partial removal of the tumour by surgery is normally used mainly in the first stages of the disease and in patients in good general conditions on the basis of the preliminary diagnostic studies which establish the benefits of this approach versus other treatment options. Surgery can be preceded or followed by cycles of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. In such a case these treatments aim at reducing the tumour mass (before surgery) or the risk of recurrence (after surgery).

Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high power radiations in order to destroy / reduce the tumour mass thus limiting at most damages to nearby healthy tissue. radiation therapy is variously used in the treatment of lung cancer depending on the type and stage of the tumour involved. In particular, it can be used alone or after surgery, as well as after chemotherapy to improve its effectiveness. It is important to emphasise how radiation therapy can play an important role in the reduction of pain symptoms in any stage of the disease.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy makes use of the so-called antiblastic or cytotossic drugs capable of inhibiting (blocking) the growth of tumour cells.

Chemotherapeutic drugs are variously used depending on the type of tumour to treat and as to the oncologist's evaluation (the so-called adjuvant therapy) they may be given according to different regimens.: before surgery or radiation therapy (the so-called neoadjuvant therapy) to reduce the tumour mass and improve the outcome of such treatments, after surgery, to reduce the risk of recurrence, or as major therapeutic option, e.g. in case of small cell lung carcinoma. An appropriate use of chemotherapeutic drugs allows a better quality of life to patients and a reduction of symptoms.

Target Therapy or Biological Agents
Biologics are a new class of drugs capable of detecting and attacking with precision and selectivity tumour cells blocking a few mechanisms related to their growth, progression and spread (metastases) without generally injuring healthy cells. The most common side effects of chemotherapy can be avoided by using such drugs which are the fruits of the most advanced research and represent a new frontier towards the development of more effective and better tolerated treatment regimens.

They are used alone or in association with chemotherapy in order to obtain a better control of the tumour mass.

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