Lung Cancer Treatments & Diet

According to the Mayo Clinic, lung cancer is responsible for the most cancer deaths per year in the United States. Fortunately, lung cancer is somewhat preventable as the large majority of people who get lung cancer are smokers. While treatment is possible, lung cancer is a very difficult disease to treat and some people opt for symptom relief.

Surgery

• During surgery for lung cancer, your surgeon will try to remove the malignant tissue to prevent the disease from spreading. Depending on the stage and severity of the cancer, part or all of the lung may be removed, as well as the lymph nodes in your chest. Like all surgery, lung cancer procedures are risky because of infection and internal bleeding. Most people will have difficulty breathing following lung surgery and physical therapy is recommended after the procedure to help you regain full breathing function.

Other Treatments

• Chemotherapy, where drugs are used to destroy cancer cells, is used for early stages of lung cancer or to prevent re-growth following surgery. It is also used to reduce symptoms in people with terminal cases. Radiation therapy directs radiation at cancer cells to weaken and destroy them. Depending on the severity of the cancer, radiation therapy is either used alone or together with chemotherapy. Radiation is either administered externally via a machine or the implantation of tiny, radioactive seeds.

Diet

• Your diet plays a big part in your risk of developing lung cancer. People who eat diets that are high in fat elevate their risk of the disease. Eating certain foods will dramatically cut down your risk of lung cancer. For example, a diet rich in fruit, especially apples, leads to lower lung cancer rates. Other things to include in your diet that will lower your risk of lung cancer include luteins, which are found in green, leafy vegetables, and lycopene, which is found in tomato products. Certain teas, such as black and green, also have anti-cancer properties.