Listening to the phrase “stage 4 lung cancer” could sound like a death sentence, but it is not the case. Due to targeted therapies and personalized medicines, patients can now live longer and actually relish life. Even though it remains a considerable health problem, the multitude of lung cancer treatment options, as well as new and very encouraging scientific breakthroughs, offer great hope.
This stage implies that the cancer has spread from the lungs to other areas of the body, and thus needs an all-out and individualized treatment plan.
The treatment options have to be comprehended by every patient and his or her family when they have to undergo the adversity of stage 4 lung cancer. From targeted therapy and immunotherapy to palliative care and lifestyle modification, there are several avenues that patients can follow to enhance their quality of life and, in a few instances, extend survival.
What is Stage 4 Lung Cancer?
Therefore, in this blog post, we will look at the potential treatment options available, their targets, and how they can be effective in fighting advanced lung cancer.
Stage 4 lung cancer marks the point when cancerous cells have metastasized to other parts of the body beyond the lungs, resulting in more difficult treatment options. It is sub-classified into two types:
Stage 4A: the cancer has spread to remote organs or tissues but is restricted to one region.
Stage 4B: the tumor has spread to several regions.
Currently, the cancer is likely to metastasize to the liver, bones, brain, or adrenal glands. While far more difficult to treat than the earlier stages, the objective is to gain control of the disease, treatment of symptoms, and enhance the patient’s quality of life.
What happens in Stage 4 Lung Cancer?
When lung cancer reaches stage 4, it signifies that cancer has spread to the lungs and metastasized to the liver, brain, bones, or even the adrenal glands. This stage is the most critical and severe stage of lung cancer. Besides the metastasis, this stage also undergoes a process of metastasis, which makes the symptoms and management of stage 4 lung cancer even more critical.
Loss of appetite results in weight loss, and fatigue, and the patient exhibits persistent shortness of breath. He also experiences a persistent cough and symptoms such as jaundice, bone pain, and headaches.
Currently, stage 4 cancer has no cure and treatment given focuses on providing supportive or palliative treatment. Medications can be prescribed to manage symptoms and pain. These attempts, however, make it very easy to overlook the worsening prognosis that would accompany such aggressive lung cancer treatment.
Regardless of this, it is essential to be positive. Every individual who is diagnosed with 4th stage lung cancer has a unique prognosis and a unique tale because of the huge leaps made with Immunotherapy and targeted therapies.
Symptoms of Stage 4 Lung cancer
The symptoms associated with Stage 4 lung cancer are often more pronounced and progressively worsen over time. Some of the more noticeable symptoms of this illness include the following:
- A chronic cough and blood expectoration
- Dyspnea or shortness of breath
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Profound exhaustion and fatigue
- Weight loss that is not a result of dieting
- Headaches, dizziness, or blurred vision (note: only if the cancer has spread to the brain)
- Bone pain, or fractures (note: if the cancer has spread to the bones)
- Reduced desire for food intake
The symptoms listed above can have a disabling effect on the patient and therefore need to be managed effectively to allow the patient to function as normally as possible for as long as possible.
Can Stage 4 Lung Cancer Be Cured?
Stage 4 lung cancer is challenging to treat due to the metastases to other parts of the body. Successfully treating this condition is preventing further growth and enhancing the quality of life, which is also extremely challenging. Stage 4 lung cancer is preceded by a sequence of stages and is described as the most advanced stage.
There are a few more advanced investigative options like targeted therapies and immune-therapies, which if advanced further, can improve life expectancy, survival, and quality of life.
Unless a patient is stationed at a lung cancer clinic and seamlessly takes part in a trial, the disease-free survival reward will always remain a glimmering unreachable carrot at the end of an always depressing stick; so far, in any documented case, those few lucky patients who don't escape into the dark void of stage 4, seem to reach a state of complete and symptom-free disease control and long-term remission.
Personalized treatment, preclinics, proactive multilevel frameworks, and continuous evolution in the fields of cancer care all advance even the most complex cases.
The progression and treatment of any disease can become complex with the patient's well-being theme, cancer type and its heritable traits, and their response to the therapy.
Molecular Testing and Precision Oncology in Lung cancer
The application of molecular testing has transformed the treatment protocols for individuals with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). With non-small cell lung cancer, molecular testing involves the identification of various genes to see whether they have mutations that can be treated with drugs designed to interact with those specific mutations.
Included mutations are those of:
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EGFR
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ALK
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KRAS
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MET exon 14 skipping
These mutations serve as critical pathways for rationally designed surgical intervention (precision oncology) which applies treatment based on the cancer structure within the genes.
To illustrate, targeted therapies, sotorasib and adagrasib have been designed to treat KRAS G12C mutations. Compared to traditional chemotherapy, these drugs have demonstrated greater efficacy with higher response and progression-free survival (PFS) rates in clinical trials.
Molecular testing as a genetic mutation checkup is often performed on liquid biopsies, a more testable form of blood. It also provides a genetic overview and is more holistic.
A wealth of research has proven that patients who undergo molecular testing, in combination with personalized therapies, based on the testing results, have a better overall survival rate (OS). This data goes a long way in proving the value of lung cancer personalized treatment.
Stage 4 Lung Cancer Treatment Options
Even though stage 4 lung cancer is difficult to manage, there are multiple effective therapies available to manage the disease, control symptoms, and more importantly, enhance the patients’ quality of life.
1. Targeted Therapy
For the EGFR, ALK and ROS1 mutations specifically, there is targeted treatment available. These targeted therapies focus on the specific mutations restricting the growth of cancerous tissues, enhancing the overall health results and minimizing side effects.
2. Immunotherapy
With the help of pembrolizumab and nivolumab, the body’s own system can be trained to attack its own cancerous cells. Survival rates in patients suffering from different cancerous tumors and body parts have seen new hope from the immunotherapy approach.
3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is common amongst cancers since it is effective against rapidly dividing cancer cells. There is no one-size-fits all approach, so patients have to stick to immunotherapy and chemotherapy most of the time.
4. Radiation Therapy
Rapidly dividing cancer cells are killed by chemotherapy. Under some circumstances, chemotherapy is the only option available and can be used on its own. In some cases, it is used in combination with immunotherapy to boost the immunotherapy’s effects.
5. Palliative care
Palliative Care provides relief for cancer-associated pain, breathlessness, fatigue, emotional distress, and provides symptom control. It can be provided at the same time as other therapies are being given at any stage of treatment.
6. Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are a great way to test out new and more advanced treatment procedures that such patients would not normally be able to access.
Discuss with your oncologist to find out if there are any clinical trials that you may be a part of.
Preparation of treatment strategies is dependent on:
A distinct subtype of lung cancer, either non-small cell or small cell.
Results from genetic testing.
The patient’s health, along with their preferences.
Often the best outcomes are seen with a fully integrated care team working in collaboration on a tailored solution using the patient’s preferences as the driving factor.
Conclusion
Dr. Pooja Babbar the best medical oncologist in Gurgaon has brought hope and healing to countless patients bettling stage 4 lung cancer. Her patients have always benefitted from her innovative approaches of treatment, especially in targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and personalized oncology. Doctor Babbar always surpasses her patients’ expectations in the quality of life her treatments provide.
Dr. Babbar uses world class medical treatment with incredible compassion and steadfast support, providing wondrous benefits. She is considered by her patients as a pillar of strength, not just to the cancer patients, and their entire family during some of the most difficult periods of their lives.
For additional information, or for scheduling an appointment, contact Dr. Pooja Babbar.
