Is it necessary to treat a 70-year-old man with lung cancer?

Lung cancer in the 70s usually still needs treatment, because through scientific and standardized treatment, the patient's quality of life and survival may be significantly improved. Treatment methods include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy. The specific choice should be based on the patient's condition and physical condition, and should be made by professional doctors after evaluating their overall health.

1. Why does a 70-year-old person with lung cancer still need treatment?

Whether elderly patients should receive treatment after they are diagnosed with lung cancer requires specific evaluation, but this does not mean that they should completely give up treatment because of their age. This is because:

- Lung cancer stage and type affect prognosis: If detected early, early lung cancer may be cured through surgery or local treatment, and even in the late stage, the disease may be effectively controlled through precise drug treatment.

- Improved quality of life: Even if cancer cannot be cured, symptomatic treatment can still help relieve pain, improve breathlessness, and improve comfort. Many patients are able to maintain a certain degree of independence after treatment.

- Advances in science and technology: With the improvement of targeted drugs, immunotherapy and other means, many patients can tolerate and benefit from treatment even when they are over 70 years old.

2.What are the commonly used methods for treating lung cancer in elderly patients?

The treatment plan should follow the principle of "individualization" and choose the appropriate method according to the stage of the disease, physical condition and other underlying diseases:

-Medication:

- Targeted therapy: For example, first-generation targeted drugs targeting EGFR gene mutations (such as gefitinib) can significantly delay tumor progression and are well tolerated by some patients;

- Immunotherapy: such as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, which help boost the patient's own immune system to attack cancer cells, and can also be effective in older patients;

-Chemotherapy: Low-toxicity regimens such as pemetrexed combined with carboplatin are recommended for elderly patients with good physical condition.

-Surgical treatment: Large-scale removal surgery is not recommended for elderly patients with poor physical strength, but for patients whose physical conditions allow and who only have small localized tumors, local surgery (such as segmentectomy) may be a safer and more effective option.

-Radiotherapy: Suitable for patients in the middle or late stages of the disease or those who cannot tolerate surgery. Through precise radiotherapy, it can reduce the tumor burden and alleviate local symptoms, such as relieving cancer-related chest pain and shortness of breath.

3. What should we pay attention to when treating elderly patients with lung cancer?

- Comprehensive assessment of the patient's physical condition: especially whether the patient has other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc., to ensure that the treatment plan does not cause additional risks.

- Pay attention to psychological support: Elderly patients are prone to anxiety or depression after suffering from cancer. They can seek help from psychologists and face the situation together with their family members.

-Diet and physical fitness management: Avoid focusing on treatment and neglecting care. It is recommended to develop a balanced diet plan with high protein, high-quality fats and fruits and vegetables, and to perform appropriate low-intensity exercises, such as slow walking or Tai Chi, to enhance tolerance.

A 70-year-old man with lung cancer is not hopeless to treat. Scientific and standardized treatment methods can improve the patient's quality of life and disease prognosis. A personalized treatment plan should be developed based on the patient's condition, physical condition and psychological needs, and a positive step towards treatment should be taken with the help of the medical team. The patient's family should also care for and support the elderly, help them build confidence and improve their quality of life.