Know How Lung Cancer Treatment is Helping Mesothelioma PatientsHealth & Wellness ProgramsUpdated on Feb 13, 2018 View more like this | Visit India, UN | Contact Shaurya Verma |
Cancer is a disease which can affect any part of the body, and one heard of most often is lung cancer. The disease is deadly, especially if not diagnosed or treated in the early stages. Most people are aware that Lung Cancer is caused by smoking - both active and passive. There is another lesser known disease which affects the inner lining as well as the covering lining of the lung, and it is called Mesothelioma. It is in fact an aggressive form of cancer. The symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment are quite similar in both cases.
Defining Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma
In both Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma, the lung gets affected, but the reasons and causes are different. Mesothelioma is caused by high exposures to asbestos and is usually prevalent in the inner lining of lungs. Lung Cancer is caused by smoking and exposure to substances like radon gas or even passive smoking. It damages the tissues of the lung.
Lung Cancer Treatments
If you were to look at Mesotelioma and Lung Cancer treatment in India it includes chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and much more. But, in addition to these conventional treatments, today many doctors practice “Immunotherapy”. The treatment induces and enhances the immunity of the patient and fights cancer. More and more doctors now prefer Immunotherapy for cancer treatment. Some of the treatments are:
A. Nivolumab: This immunotherapy drug, which is single-agent medicine, was established in 2015 for lung cancer. This was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014 and has been advised, to be used along with Yervoy, a skin cancer treating drug. Nivolumab has shown significant results in fighting against both Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma.
B. Pembrolizumab: This drug is used as first-line treatment along with chemotherapy in the treatment of Lung Cancer. The medicine has shown double the effect of chemotherapy in lung cancer. It is highly effective in Mesothelioma as well.
C. Atezolizumab: It is believed to be the latest immunotherapy drug which can be used in the treatment of lung cancer and for patients where chemotherapy has stopped working.
D. CAR T Cell Therapy: The FDA has recently approved it to be used in “Pediatric Leukemia” and has shown great results in treating various forms of Lung Cancer. The therapy incorporates reprogramming a patient’s WBCs, in controlled lab conditions, where they can fight the cancer cells effectively.
There are vaccines, available today, which can combat Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma quite effectively. Apart from the above-mentioned treatments, drugs, and therapies, both the diseases can be treated by- Surgery, Chemotherapy, Radiation therapy, and much more.
Combined Treatments Applied
The fact, once again needs clarity, that Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma are separate kind of cancers but can be treated with similar types of therapy. Different therapies can also be combined and applied to their treatments. Many specialists have used photodynamic therapy to treat both the cancers.
Keep Yourself Updated
The need of the hour in the treatment of lung cancer or Mesothelioma is awareness. The caregivers and family members of the patients must keep their ears and eyes open to all sorts of updates in the field of cancer treatment so that they can get the benefits. There is no harm in exploring countries like India for treatment of the cancers. They have the experts and specialist to provide care and latest treatments at a fraction of the cost.
Complementary and alternative drugs are available for the treatment of both the diseases and the patient can be relieved from the symptoms of the disease or the side effects of traditional cancer medications.
Defining Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma
In both Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma, the lung gets affected, but the reasons and causes are different. Mesothelioma is caused by high exposures to asbestos and is usually prevalent in the inner lining of lungs. Lung Cancer is caused by smoking and exposure to substances like radon gas or even passive smoking. It damages the tissues of the lung.
Lung Cancer Treatments
If you were to look at Mesotelioma and Lung Cancer treatment in India it includes chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and much more. But, in addition to these conventional treatments, today many doctors practice “Immunotherapy”. The treatment induces and enhances the immunity of the patient and fights cancer. More and more doctors now prefer Immunotherapy for cancer treatment. Some of the treatments are:
A. Nivolumab: This immunotherapy drug, which is single-agent medicine, was established in 2015 for lung cancer. This was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014 and has been advised, to be used along with Yervoy, a skin cancer treating drug. Nivolumab has shown significant results in fighting against both Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma.
B. Pembrolizumab: This drug is used as first-line treatment along with chemotherapy in the treatment of Lung Cancer. The medicine has shown double the effect of chemotherapy in lung cancer. It is highly effective in Mesothelioma as well.
C. Atezolizumab: It is believed to be the latest immunotherapy drug which can be used in the treatment of lung cancer and for patients where chemotherapy has stopped working.
D. CAR T Cell Therapy: The FDA has recently approved it to be used in “Pediatric Leukemia” and has shown great results in treating various forms of Lung Cancer. The therapy incorporates reprogramming a patient’s WBCs, in controlled lab conditions, where they can fight the cancer cells effectively.
There are vaccines, available today, which can combat Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma quite effectively. Apart from the above-mentioned treatments, drugs, and therapies, both the diseases can be treated by- Surgery, Chemotherapy, Radiation therapy, and much more.
Combined Treatments Applied
The fact, once again needs clarity, that Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma are separate kind of cancers but can be treated with similar types of therapy. Different therapies can also be combined and applied to their treatments. Many specialists have used photodynamic therapy to treat both the cancers.
Keep Yourself Updated
The need of the hour in the treatment of lung cancer or Mesothelioma is awareness. The caregivers and family members of the patients must keep their ears and eyes open to all sorts of updates in the field of cancer treatment so that they can get the benefits. There is no harm in exploring countries like India for treatment of the cancers. They have the experts and specialist to provide care and latest treatments at a fraction of the cost.
Complementary and alternative drugs are available for the treatment of both the diseases and the patient can be relieved from the symptoms of the disease or the side effects of traditional cancer medications.
