Health News

Lung Cancer Check Advised for COPD Patients
A diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) often is the end result of a lifetime of smoking. So should  COPD patients want to get a checkup for lung cancer as well?
Chemo-Drug Combo Clobbers Cancer
Gene therapies to treat lung cancer are continuing to emerge. A new combination of drugs may help lung cancer patients live longer. Several gene mutations have been identified in lung cancer cells.
Targeted Cancer Therapy Casts Wider Net
Targeting cancer gene mutations has been changing the way non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC ) is treated. As scientists learn more about the genetic makeup of tumors, more personalized therapy has become available.
An Alternative When Cancer Grows
When non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC ) grows again after shrinking on targeted therapy, patients may turn to chemotherapy. Adding local therapy to targeted drugs could offer another solution.
Tracking Tumors Enters a New Dimension
Four-dimensional imaging brings a live-action view to a 3D picture. A new version of this technique may help deliver higher levels of radiation to tumors while sparing healthy tissue.
Radiation Isn't a Cancer Cure
When lung cancer is metastatic, it has spread to another part of the body. When cancer is at this advanced stage, radiation can ease pain and other symptoms but not cure the disease.
Good To The Bone
When lung cancer starts to spread, it often goes to the bone. This is the site of metastasis (spread) for other cancers as well. A comparison of bone medications found one to be superior.
Never Too Late for Therapy
Older lung cancer patients who have not responded to standard chemotherapy may be reluctant to continue treatment. Later-stage drug treatment, however, can be effective. Older patients often go under-treated because of concerns that they will not be able to tolerate certain toxic therapies.
Ethnicity and Lung Cancer Risk
While you may expect to see a high number of lung cancer cases among smokers, people who have never smoked also get the disease. Asian women, especially, seem to be at risk.
When to Talk About The End
One of the stark and sad realities of cancer is that not everybody beats it. Knowing that the end could be near and talking about it may be a wise choice for some.