The complexity of lung cancer disease calls for its personalized care depending on the unique characteristic of each patient’s condition. Board-certified medical oncologists and their highly skilled team at Hunterdon Hematology Oncology, LLC, provide a state-of-the-art level of care for lung cancer in Flemington, New Jersey. The team of experts works closely with you, to provide all-around services such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and advanced immunotherapy to ensure that you are provided with the best treatment and management options for your cancer. The facility is honored for providing personalized care to support your emotional and physical needs.
Types of lung cancer
The different types of lung cancer exhibit different symptoms and require different approaches to treatment. There are several types of lung cancers. The two most common types are;
- Non-small cell lung cancer which represents 80-85% of the total lung cancers that are diagnosed in smokers and nonsmokers. It has three subtypes:
- adenocarcinoma which starts in mucus-secreting cells
- squamous cell carcinoma which starts in cells that line the airways
- large cell carcinoma, that develops in any part of your lungs.
- Small cell lung cancer also known as oat cell cancer and whose diagnosis occurs in 10-15% of the total lung cancer patients. It usually begins in the bronchi or airways. Compared to non-small cell lung cancer, oat cell cancer spreads faster. It is mostly diagnosed in smokers.
Symptoms of lung cancer
Symptoms of lung cancer usually appear in the advanced stages of the disease and include:
A persistent cough that doesn’t improve, wheezing, coughing of blood, shortness of breath, hoarseness, fatigue, chest pain, and unexplained weight loss.
A wide spectrum of symptoms, including bone pain in your back or hips, migraines, dizziness, swollen lymph nodes, seizures, jaundice, etc can be experienced when cancer in your lungs spreads to other parts of the body.
Treatment of lung cancer
In the early stages of lung cancer, surgery is usually recommended to remove the tumor. Surgery often treats non-small cell lung cancer. However, in cases where the cancer is diagnosed in its advanced stages as in small cell lung cancer, specialists at Hunterdon Hematology Oncology, LLC provide advanced treatment options including:
- Radiation therapy treatment which destroys cancer cells by using high-energy X-rays. Radiation therapy is usually the primary treatment option that is done before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor. It is also performed after surgery to get rid of any cancer cells still in your body and to treat lung cancer that has spread to other parts of your body.
- Chemotherapy which is performed before and/or after surgery regardless of radiation having been done or not. The combination of chemo and radiation is used to treat cancer that has spread throughout the body.
- Immunotherapy which involves the use of medications to strengthen and support the immune system’s ability to fight lung cancer. Immunotherapy can be used for both types of lung cancer but only for those that exhibit specific characteristics – lab tests can determine if you’re a candidate.
- Targeted drug therapy which is an option for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. The drugs used, help to inhibit the growth of blood vessels in the tumor, killing the cancerous cells.
To learn more about lung cancer and to receive exceptional treatment and care for lung cancer, call Hunterdon Hematology Oncology, LLC, or book an appointment online today.
