What is the conservative treatment for advanced lung cancer? What you need to know about surgical treatment for brain metastases from lung cancer

What is the conservative treatment for advanced lung cancer?

The treatment of advanced lung cancer is very important, and the treatment during this period will affect the life of many patients. The following experts will introduce to you what is the conservative treatment of advanced lung cancer?

Lung cancer is often asymptomatic in its early stages. Almost two-thirds of lung cancer patients are already in the advanced stage (stage III or IV) when they seek medical treatment. Thirty-five percent of patients may have clinical examination results, and primary tumors, metastatic tumors, systemic symptoms or tumor-associated symptoms may all be the patient's first symptoms.

Twenty-seven percent of the first symptoms are caused by primary tumors. The symptoms are related to the location of the primary tumor. Central lung cancer is manifested by irritating dry cough, breathlessness, repeated pneumonia in the same location, hemoptysis or asthma, recurrent laryngeal nerve, phrenic nerve compression symptoms or superior vena cava compression syndrome. Peripheral tumors are more common with symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness or pleural effusion. Large peripheral lesions, central necrosis, and cavities eventually present similar manifestations to lung abscesses. Common symptoms of primary lung cancer are grouped.

The efficacy of TCM in treating lung cancer is often quite significant, and TCM has the effect of auxiliary treatment. Syndrome differentiation and treatment is the main method of TCM in treating lung cancer, and there is also the principle of overall regulation. TCM can reduce the toxic side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, increase the body's tolerance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, improve the quality of life, and prolong life. It has unique advantages.

Patients with stage III disease confirmed by pathology or cytology as squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma or large cell carcinoma who are not suitable for surgery, and patients with postoperative recurrence and metastasis or stage III disease who are not suitable for surgery for other reasons.

Conservative treatment of advanced lung cancer - radiotherapy: Treatment principles Radiotherapy is best for small cell carcinoma, followed by squamous cell carcinoma, and worst for adenocarcinoma. However, small cell carcinoma is prone to metastasis, so large-area irregular irradiation is often used. The irradiation area should include the primary lesion, the bilateral supraclavicular area of ​​the mediastinum, and even the liver and brain, and should be supplemented with drug therapy.

Notes on surgical treatment of brain metastases from lung cancer

Brain metastases in lung cancer patients often occur in advanced stages and are very dangerous, especially increased intracranial pressure and brain herniation, which are the main causes of early death. For the treatment of brain metastases from lung cancer, the most commonly used method is surgical treatment, which can remove metastatic cancer, reduce intracranial hypertension, prevent brain herniation, and create favorable conditions for comprehensive treatments such as postoperative radiotherapy or chemotherapy or autologous immune cell therapy. Due to the severity of the patient's condition, the surgical indications should be strictly followed when choosing surgical treatment.

It is currently believed that the following types of patients can be treated with surgery:

1. Patients with single or two adjacent isolated lesions of brain metastasis;

2. Patients whose primary lung cancer has been removed and have no signs of recurrence;

3. Patients without liver or kidney damage;

4. Patients with good general condition and no extensive systemic metastasis.

It should be noted that surgical treatment of lung cancer cannot completely cure metastases. Even if a single lesion is locally resected, recurrence may occur after surgery. Therefore, appropriate auxiliary treatment is often required.

Some patients with lung cancer brain metastasis are not suitable for surgical treatment

Although surgery is the most commonly used treatment method, it is relatively traumatic. Surgical treatment is not recommended if the patient has multiple brain metastases, metastases located in difficult-to-operate areas such as the brainstem and thalamus, metastases to other organs, poor liver, kidney, heart and lung function, and systemic failure.