What treatments?
How the non-small cell lung cancer is treated will depend on the type (squamous, adenorcarcinoom or large cell), and whether there is an EGFR mutation. The treatment options are: operation (surgery), wherein the tumor to the surrounding lung tissue is removed,irradiation (radiotherapy), in which the tumor and the adjacent lymph nodes are irradiated either in order to try to cure to achieve or to to reduce the complaints, treatment with cell-killing drugs (chemotherapy), when the disease has already spread, and combinations of treatment modalities such as chemotherapy followed by surgery, chemotherapy simultaneously with or followed by radiotherapy or surgery followed by radiotherapy. They can also opt for a targeted therapy when there is an EGFR mutation.
Which treatment is appropriate depends on the outcome of the investigations. Is there a local disease and lung and heart-reserves are sufficient, then surgery may be suggested. There are metastases of the tumor then opted for a different treatment. There is only of metastases in the regional lymph nodes than as treatment (partly this is still experimental) chemotherapy followed by surgery or radiotherapy proposed. There are distant metastases, chemotherapy is then proposed. If an EGFR mutation can be determined will be elected for a targeted therapy with a TKI.
Survival
When estimating survival is always based on averages. That says so much about how it will fare. If you like survival rates of NSCLC want to see, click here.
Non-small cell lung cancer
When estimating the survival, use is made of a median survival. This means that at that time, 50% of patients with cancer who are deceased or survival. Also, using the 5-year survival: ie what percentage of people with this cancer survive five years after diagnosis.
Lung cancer is not treated then the median survival of 6 months. After surgical treatment, the five-year survival was about 40%. This also depends on the extent of the tumor. (see also: Surgery) The five-year survival after radiotherapy is also 5-10% depending on the size of the tumor and any metastases. (see also: Radiotherapy) for chemotherapy is a five year survival less than 1%. (see also: Chemotherapy).
Small cell lung cancer
The survival rates are determined by the extent of the disease, the general state of the patient, a number of blood provisions (lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase, protein content and salt (sodium) content), and the response to the treatment.
The survival at 3 years is limited disease (limited disease) treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy above 20%. Treated with chemotherapy alone is the 3 year survival rate is only 9%.
Survival in extensive disease (extensive disease) is bleaker: a 5-year survival of 1.6%. The average survival is approximately 8-9 months.
Mesothelioma
The median survival (ie 50% of the patients still alive) depends on the stage between 11 and 22 months.
