What is the difference between ALK inhibitors?
There are a number of different ALK-inhibitors now routinely for ALK positive lung cancer. This article explains the various treatments in different generations of development.
What does radiotherapy for lung cancer involve?
Radiation therapy involves the use of radiation beams to damage and destroy cancerous tissue in the body. This article summarizes what to expect during the planning and conduct of radiation treatment.
How long do I have to live?
Cancer treatments are usually aimed at prolonging life and improving symptoms, rather than at cure. Many people and their families value honest and empathic discussion around their possible prognosis. However, it is critical to understand that every individual is different, that clinical trials and ‘averages’ do not apply to individuals, and that the doctor will almost always be wrong if they give a specific number of months or years.
When should I consider radiation for lung cancer?
After a diagnosis of lung cancer, many people are not sure about the role of radiation or indeed on what to expect from radiation therapy. This article summarizes several reasons why you may wish to consider radiation treatment.
My lung cancer is ALK positive – what does that mean?
Most people find out they are ALK positive in the setting of their cancer having already spread far enough such that surgery or radiation therapy are unlikely to be the initial approaches (distant disease). At this stage, knowing you are ALK positive opens up a range of pill options which would be very effective in most people and, although not a cure, can control the disease in most people for several years.
New treatments in advanced non-small cell lung cancer 2022
In recent years, we have learned more about the genetic changes that occur in lung cancer cells (known as somatic genetic alterations). Testing for these genetic alterations is now recommended for all patients with newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer. Excitingly, more and more of these genetic alterations can now be treated with targeted treatments.
New treatments for mesothelioma 2022
For the last two decades, chemotherapy has been the main treatment for patients with newly diagnosed mesothelioma but patients can relapse and (until now) treatment options were limited.
New treatments for localized and regional lung cancer 2022
This year, a number of new treatments that have been established in distant lung cancer have been evaluated in combination with surgery for localized and regional lung cancer with impressive results leading to fast-track international approval for use.
Surgery for pleural mesothelioma
A small proportion of people with pleural mesothelioma have limited disease (as seen on CT scanning), but a very large question that looms in their minds (and that of their clinicians) is whether surgery would be beneficial to help them live longer?
Lung cancer staging
If you are interested in your medical care, it is incredibly important to know about lung cancer staging - a classification of the distribution of your cancer.
How painful is lung cancer surgery?
It is common to be concerned about pain after lung cancer surgery, research suggests that on average the pain is 4 of out 10 on the first day after the operation. Here is an article that explains in more detail.
What is cancer?
Cancer is caused by uncontrolled cell growth, and this is a short article explaining how it occurs.