I’ll ensure you receive the best drug treatment tailored to your personal situation and your lung cancer’s unique characteristics. This may include immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or targeted therapies based on your tumour’s genetic profile.
For some patients, I recommend drug treatment before surgery or radiotherapy to shrink the tumour and improve treatment success. For others, it’s given after surgery to eliminate remaining cancer cells and reduce recurrence risk. In advanced cases, chemotherapy can manage the disease and alleviate symptoms, improving your quality of life.
Immunotherapy: Harnessing Your Body’s Own Defences
Immunotherapy is one of the most exciting advancements in lung cancer treatment. This approach works by boosting your immune system’s ability to recognise and attack cancer cells. The goal is to empower your body to fight the cancer more effectively. I sometimes combine immunotherapy with other chemotherapy treatments.
Targeted Therapies: Precision Medicine for Lung Cancer
Targeted therapies, such as Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs, e.g. Osimertinib, Alectinib, Sotorasib), focus on specific genetic mutations or proteins that are driving the cancer’s growth. This precision medicine approach allows for more effective treatment with potentially fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy. Targeted therapies are often used when a specific mutation is identified, giving you a tailored treatment plan that addresses the unique characteristics of your cancer.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy remains a cornerstone in the treatment of lung cancer. It works by killing rapidly dividing cancer cells throughout the body.
Each treatment option is part of a larger strategy to give you the best possible outcome, and I am here to support you every step of the way.