Lung Cancer Treatment Options in Florida

The process of lung cancer treatment will vary from patient to patient, depending on the type of lung cancer present, the spread of cancerous cells, and the exact location of the cancer. Typically, patients are presented with an interdisciplinary approach, which may include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Each of these treatment options has its own unique benefits and drawbacks, and each should be discussed with a skilled care team dedicated to managing your case. Visiting Dr. Tishko, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida,  for your lung cancer treatment will provide you with access not only to Dr. Tishko’s surgical expertise, but also to other specialists who will make all treatment options part of your treatment planning.

When it comes to lung cancer treatment, there are three basic approaches: Chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. Each of these treatments is intended to isolate and eradicate cancer cells, but they do so in different ways. That means that the best approach is often a combination of therapies rather than a single treatment option.

Surgery

Surgery for lung cancer may include exploratory surgery to diagnose and stage the cancer. This process may include a biopsy, which is the removal of a tissue sample for closer examination under a microscope to determine the presence of cancer. Alternatively, surgery may include the removal of parts of the lung or removal of the whole lung as well as the removal of lymph nodes. Minimally-invasive surgeries are recommended where appropriate to minimize physical stress on the body and reduce the risk of any complications or side effects.

Our surgical approach to treating lung cancer and lung nodules is a newly pioneered approach developed by Dr. Tishko and is called Single Incision SiVATs.  It is much more minimally invasive than the standard VATs surgery that is typically performed for removing lung nodules.  You can read more information on the SIVATs surgical approach here.

Radiation

Radiation oncologists use the targeted delivery of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells, ultimately shrinking or eliminating harmful tumors. With modern radiation therapy treatments, radiation is delivered with greater precision, which reduces the potential for harm to nearby tissues. This is particularly important for lung cancer treatment, because the lungs are in close proximity to the heart, esophagus, and other vital chest organs.

Chemotherapy

You may have a general idea of how chemotherapy works—oncologists administer drugs to target rapidly growing cells to eliminate cancerous cells. However, it’s important to remember that there are many types of chemo drugs and methods of administering them, so your experience with chemo may be much different than that of other patients. In some cases, it’s most effective to surgically implant a chemotherapy port, which facilitates intravenous chemo sessions that can ultimately be easier on the body as potentially irritating drugs are introduced.

As you are introduced to your cancer treatment options, it’s important to ask your doctor plenty of questions and voice any of your concerns. With Dr. Tishko, you will have the comfort of patient education throughout your treatment, which you can trust is provided by experienced, dedicated specialists.