Besides surgery, there are other types of treatments that can be used to cure lung cancer. They are called adjuvant therapy. These therapy treatments are used to ensure that every cancer cell left behind after surgery is completely exterminated, it also ensures that the cancer does not return after treatment. Below are the adjuvant therapies.
Radiation therapy involves the use of high energy x-rays to kill cancer cells or prevent them from growing. Radiation therapy cannot be used to treat lung cancer that has already spread, it only kills cancer cells that are directly in the part of the radiation beam. There are two types of radiation therapy, these are
- External radiation therapy: this involves the use of a machine outside the body to send radiation beam towards the direction of the cancer.
- Internal radiation therapy: this involves the use of radioactive substances sealed in a needle or any safe enclosed container so that it will be implanted directly on the cancer.
- Chemotherapy
This involves the use of drugs to kill cancer cells thereby preventing the growth and further division. Chemotherapy drugs can be taken through the mouth or through injection, when the drug is being taken in, it passes through the blood stream to the location of cancer cells.
- Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy involves the use of drugs and other substances to target specific cancer cells and other tissues that contributed to the growth of cancer cells. Targeted therapy blocks the growth and spread of cancer cells without harming normal cells. The two types of targeted therapy used in the treatment of lung cancer are monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, the former involves the use of antibodies to block the growth of cancer, while the later involves the use of drugs.
- Laser Therapy
This involves the use of a laser beam of to destroy cancer cells.
- Photodynamic Therapy
This involves the use of a certain drug and a certain beam of light to kill cancer cells. The drug will not be effective except it is being exposed to the laser light as it is being injected into the vein. Fireoptic tubes are used to direct the light to the cancer cells so that the drug will be active and it will destroy cancer cells.
- Anti-angiogenesis Therapy
This treatment is focused on stopping angiogenesis; which is the process of making new blood vessels. Lung cancer cell requires nutrients delivered by blood vessels to grow, for this reason an anti-angiogenic drug is being taken with chemotherapy to prevent the cancer tumor from receiving nutrient to grow.