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Laser Treatment for Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a very serious disease that requires drastic and radical treatments in order to cure or control it. But even with these treatments, the prognosis is often bleak, especially since diagnosis often doesn't occur until the disease has progressed to later stages. That being said, treatments like laser therapy have proven to be effective in reducing the size of lung cancer tumors and improving the quality of life for patients.

  1. Why Laser Treatment Must Be Used

    • Most often, laser treatment is utilized in the treatment of lung cancer because the patient can no longer breathe properly. A tumor might grow into one of the bronchi (bronchial tubes), blocking the pathway of air. However, tumors can also grow on the outside of the airway, pressing in on it or on the windpipe. Sometimes, fluid builds up in the lungs as well due to the presence of a tumor. Laser treatment must be used in these cases to shrink the tumor and reduce the blockade effect it's having on your airways.

    How Laser Treatment Works

    • Laser treatment works in a fairly straightforward manner. It uses a beam of light focused on the tumor to destroy it and remove the offending tissue. While it is not an effective cure for lung cancer, it does help to improve breathing and overall lung function, increasing the patient's quality of life.

    What Laser Treatment Is Like

    • Before you undergo laser treatment, you will be placed under general anesthetia or sedated. Then, a bronchoscope will be placed down the throat and into the lungs. The laser is fed through this tube. Next, it will be activated and the tumor will be destroyed and removed. The laser cauterizes as it cuts, minimizing any bleeding that could result from this procedure.

    Laser Treatment Side Effects

    • Luckily, laser treatment typically does not produce negative side effects. Many people find that they can go home a few hours following surgery or the next day. The only real side effect is infection, which, if it occurs, will necessitate intravenous antibiotics and an extended hospital stay.

    Tumor Reoccurrence

    • Since laser therapy is not a cure for lung cancer, it is likely you will need to undergo the treatment again. If the tumor should grow back, you can have the procedure repeated, though your doctor will likely wish to add radiation therapy to your course of treatment to help slow the growth of the tumor.

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