Lung Cancer and Asbestos Exposure: Therapies
Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and exposure to this dangerous mineral can increase your risk of lung cancer. While many think of mesothelioma as lung cancer, technically, pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs. While both mesothelioma and lung cancer can be deadly, asbestos exposure is more likely to cause lung cancer than mesothelioma.Asbestos-related lung cancer can be challenging to treat because of the difficulty in diagnosing it. Many people don’t receive a diagnosis until a later stage, making treatment more invasive and less effective. However, newer targeted therapies are a promising area of treatment for lung cancer. The type of treatment your doctor will recommend will depend partly on whether you have small or non-small cell lung cancer and how advanced it is.
Treating Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type. Treatment will vary based on the stage of your disease.
- Stage 1:
- The cancer is typically limited to one side of the chest and hasn’t yet progressed to the lymph nodes. For stage 1 lung cancer, your doctor may recommend surgery.
- Stage 2:
- The cancer is limited to the lungs and the lymph nodes in the lungs. For stage 2 cancers, your doctor may recommend surgery and chemotherapy.
- Stage 3:
- The cancer has progressed to the lymph nodes in the middle of the chest, and you may have fluid around the lungs. For stage 3 lung cancer, your doctor may recommend a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
- Stage 3B:
- The cancer is now in the lymph nodes on the opposite side of the chest. Your doctor may recommend a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
- Stage 4:
- The cancer has spread beyond your chest to other organs, such as the brain, kidney, or bones. Treatment typically involves shrinking the tumors to give you as much time as possible.
Treating Small Cell Lung Cancer
Small cell lung cancer has just two stages.
- Limited stage:
- The cancer is limited to one lung or lymph node on one side of the chest. In these cases, your doctor may recommend surgery or surgery with other therapies.
- Extensive stage:
- The lung cancer spreads to one or both lungs, lymph nodes on both sides of the chest, the bone marrow, distant organs, or the fluid in the chest. When the cancer is in both lungs, your doctor may recommend that they use surgery in conjunction with other therapies like chemotherapy and radiation.
Targeted Therapies for Lung Cancer
In addition to traditional surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapies, there are now more treatments for lung cancer, including targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and laser therapy.
- Targeted Therapies:
- Targeted therapies used to treat lung cancer include monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, and KRAS G12C inhibitors. These targeted therapies work to block and kill cancer cells.
- Immunotherapy:
- Immunotherapy is a biologic therapy using your body’s immune system to kill cancer cells. These treatments use substances made by your body or in a lab to direct or boost your body’s defenses.
- Laser Therapy:
- Laser therapy uses a directed laser beam to kill cancer cells in a way similar to radiation treatment.
You Need an Experienced Attorney
While scientists are constantly working on new therapies to treat lung cancer, it is still deadly. But you don’t have to go through this alone. If you’ve developed lung cancer because of asbestos exposure, you need a skilled attorney well-versed in asbestos litigation by your side. The experienced lawyers at the Madeksho Law Firm can help. Call us at 1-888-910-6376 or contact us online. Your first consultation is always free, and you don’t pay a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
