In
the field of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment, every new understanding and
every breakthrough in treatment carries the deepest expectations of patients
and their families. When faced with the word "lung cancer", the first
questions that often arise in people's minds are: "Is my condition
treatable?" and "Is there still hope for a cure?"
In this issue's doctor-patient Q&A, we have specially invited Professor Yang Nong, a distinguished expert from Hainan Cancer Hospital, to provide us with an in-depth analysis of key issues that patients are concerned about in lung cancer treatment.
What kind of lung cancer is considered "treatable"? How long is the cure period
When it comes to "easily treatable" lung cancer, Professor Yang Nong said that the essence of "easily treatable" lies in finding a targeted and effective treatment method. Regardless of the complexity of the disease itself, as long as the treatment plan is precise and effective, it can be called "easily treatable".
For "easily treatable" lung cancer, the treatment duration can vary depending on the disease stage.
For early-stage lung cancer, after surgical removal of the lesion, patients can usually have their sutures removed within 7-10 days, and the subsequent recovery period is roughly half a year to a year. For patients with advanced lung cancer, even if clinical cure can be achieved and tumor burden significantly reduced through drug treatment, the entire treatment process will still take about two years.
Therefore, there is no unified standard for the definition of "easy to treat" and the length of treatment period, and a comprehensive judgment based on the specific condition of the patient is required.
Being diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma is considered "relatively fortunate"
In outpatient clinics, patients often inquire, "Is being diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma a very serious condition?" In response, Professor Yang Nong clearly states that among different pathological types of lung cancer, lung adenocarcinoma is relatively "lucky". This does not mean that other pathological types such as squamous cell carcinoma are untreatable, but rather that the treatment options for lung adenocarcinoma are more abundant and targeted. Doctors have more "weapons" to help patients fight the tumor and strive for a longer survival time.
The "luck" of lung adenocarcinoma is mainly reflected in three major advantages:
The most significant characteristic of lung adenocarcinoma, a natural fit for targeted therapy, is its clear target. Most patients can find the "weakness" of cancer cells. Currently, common targets all have corresponding targeted drugs, with clear therapeutic effects and the ability to precisely attack tumor cells.
With a wide range of treatment options and flexible combinations, even some patients who have not found a suitable therapeutic target can often benefit from immunotherapy. Combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, anti-angiogenic therapy, and other methods, doctors can develop personalized treatment combinations based on the patient's condition and physical status.
Early-stage lung adenocarcinoma exhibits relatively typical manifestations on CT imaging. It tends to form well-defined ground-glass opacities in its early stages, and the transition from ground-glass opacities to lesion consolidation is relatively long, making it easy for doctors to identify. Furthermore, after being removed through minimally invasive surgery, early-stage lung adenocarcinoma does not require complex adjuvant therapy, and the 5-year survival rate can reach over 90%.
Is there still a chance for treatment after late-stage lung adenocarcinoma becomes resistant to targeted drugs
Resistance to targeted drugs is a potential challenge faced by patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma during treatment. In response to this issue, Professor Yang Nong suggests:
In the first scenario, if the targeted drug demonstrates significant efficacy, achieving complete tumor elimination, and no lesions are visible on long-term imaging examinations, treatment can be temporarily paused at an appropriate time for close observation, without the urgency to initiate the next treatment plan.
In the second scenario, if the tumor no longer shrinks after the patient has been taking targeted drugs for about half a year, local treatment methods such as surgical resection or stereotactic radiotherapy should be employed to remove the lesion, followed by systemic drug therapy to consolidate the therapeutic effect.
Through such a comprehensive treatment strategy, some patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma also have the opportunity to achieve clinical cure. Professor Yang Nong emphasized that even for advanced lung cancer, patients should not give up hope for treatment.
Expert Introduction
Yang Nong, Chief Physician, Doctoral Supervisor
Long-term employed experts from Hainan Cancer Hospital and Hainan Chengmei Hospital
He currently serves as Vice President of the Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, leader of the oncology department, and head of the "Yang Nong Famous Doctor Clinic" / "Yang Nong Famous Doctor Expert Team Clinic". He is also the chief expert of the National Major Scientific and Technological Special Project, a member of the Lung Cancer Special Committee of the National Tumor Quality Control Center, the director of the Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer, and the director of the Hunan Provincial Respiratory Oncology Clinical Medical Research Center. He has been dedicated to precision targeted therapy for lung cancer and gastrointestinal tumors, as well as to clinical, scientific research, and teaching work related to difficult, recurrent, and drug-resistant cases for nearly 30 years.
He was honored with the title of "Outstanding Exemplar of National Famous Doctors" at the 6th session, and has been recommended as "Annual Excellent Doctor" by patients across the country for eight consecutive years, as well as being awarded the title of "First Brain Doctor, Famous Doctor". He has authored national guidelines, boasts over 500,000 followers across the internet, and has achieved over 120 million views in anti-cancer science popularization.
[Medical expertise]
Specialties: Precision treatment of lung cancer, breakthrough in difficult-to-treat, recurrent, and drug-resistant cases with brain metastasis; individualized and precise treatment for brain metastases of lung cancer; early diagnosis of pulmonary nodules and lung cancer; personalized comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for pan-solid tumors; clinical trials of the latest immunotherapy/targeted therapy drugs.
With nearly 30 years of experience in precision immunotherapy for lung cancer, he has led nearly 400 phase I-III clinical trials of new anticancer drugs (including national Class 1 new drugs), and is particularly skilled in treating complex cases such as refractory, recurrent, and drug-resistant conditions, as well as brain metastases.
He is also proficient in the comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of multiple cancer types, individualized, and interdisciplinary across various solid tumors (such as stomach, intestine, brain, etc.).
[Visit information]
1. Clinic Hours and Location
8:00-12:00 on December 21st
The sixth consultation area of Hainan Cancer Hospital
2. Appointment registration
Follow the official account of Hainan Cancer Hospital for "appointment registration"
3. Health consultation
13876807106
[Friendly Reminder]
To facilitate the expert's understanding of the condition as soon as possible, please bring:
1. ID card, medical insurance card, mobile phone
2. Accompany immediate family members (with decision-making authority)
3. Arrange the relevant examinations you have undergone in chronological order
4. Paper medical records of previous visits
5. Surgical case biopsy: paraffin block or 20-30 white slides
6. Pathological diagnosis report
7. Inpatient medical records and notes
8. Recent relevant examinations
9. The patient's current treatment plan
10. The most pressing questions I want to inquire about