Lung Cancer Treatment for Seniors: Options and Outlook

Lung cancer is characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells lining the lungs. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the median age at which lung cancer was diagnosed from 2002-2006 in the U.S. was 71 years.

Significance

• According to the NCI, nearly 220,000 cases of lung cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S. with nearly 160,000 patients succumbing to the disease.

Treatment Options for the Elderly

• There is no complete cure, but radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy are considered to be effective in controlling the proliferation of malignant cells in elderly patients.

Benefits

• Elderly patients who are unable to undergo surgical removal of cancerous cells often benefit from radiation therapy and chemotherapy because they are minimally invasive and involve little pain.

Survival Rates

• The NCI reports that the average five-year survival rate for lung cancer patients is about 16 percent for individuals above 50 years. However, the rate may vary depending on the stage and spread of the cancer.

Side Effects

• Side effects of radiation and chemotherapy when used to treat elderly lung cancer patients include hair loss, appetite reduction, fatigue and difficulty in breathing.

Clinical Trials

• Various combinations of drugs such as carboplatin, pacitaxel and gemcitabine are being tested in the labs for their potential in treating elder lung cancer patients in the future.