HJNO Nov/Dec 2020

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  NOV / DEC 2020 53 Jeffrey Long, MD Radiation Oncologist Mary Bird Perkins TGMC Cancer Center include a cough that is persistent or worsen- ing, coughing up blood, increasing shortness of breath and chest pain. Anyone with any of these symptoms should report them to their primary care team promptly. Patients suspected to have lung can- cer undergo imaging studies and a biopsy. There are many ways to obtain a biopsy of lung cancer. Modern biopsy techniques are performed with more safety and less discomfort than in the past. A pathologist reviews the biopsy specimen to be sure it is cancer and to determine the type of cancer. When cancer is confirmed, there are often additional diagnostic studies performed to help determine where the cancer is located. When these additional diagnostic studies are completed, it is possible to assign a stage to the lung cancer. This staging classification is numbered one to four. Stage one lung cancer is the least advanced and four is the most advanced. The stage and type of lung cancer directly affects how it is treated. Lung Cancer Treatment Lung cancer may be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and im- munotherapy. Treatment of lung cancer may involve any of these treatment modalities, either alone or in combination. For the best outcome in treating lung cancer, a team ap- proach among different medical specialties is vital. Surgery is often used to treat earlier stage lung cancer. Surgery is usually the preferred treatment when possible. Surgery may be problematic as lung cancer patients are often elderly with other health problems. Fortunately, modern surgical techniques al- lowmore patients to undergo surgery with less risk and discomfort than was possible in the past. Radiation therapy is often used in treat- ing lung cancer. Radiation therapy has an important role in the earliest stages of lung cancer where surgery is not possible. Aspe- cialized treatment called stereotactic body radiation therapy delivers very high doses of radiation to the cancer with exceptional sparing of surrounding normal tissues from adverse effects of treatment. This controls lung cancer in the area being treated for the great majority of patients. For patients with more advanced lung cancer, radiation therapy is used alone or in combination with chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy. Whenmetastatic cancer causes problematic symptoms, radiation therapy often provides important relief. In my practice of radiation oncology, I have seen remarkable improve- ments in the efficacy of radiation therapy in recent years. Chemotherapy is anticancer medication taken by mouth or injected into a vein. There are many different types of chemotherapy that may be used alone or in combination. Chemotherapy may cause varied side effects depending on the type of chemotherapy giv- en. The side effects of chemotherapy usually resolve after treatment is complete. Medical advances allow chemotherapy to be given with less side effects now than in the past. Immunotherapy is an important recent advancement in treating lung cancer. These medications allow an immune response that attacks cancer cells. While immunotherapy does not work for all lung cancers, many patients have remarkable responses to im- munotherapy, allowing them to live longer than ever. Immunotherapy often has less side effects than chemotherapy. In patients with advanced stage four lung cancer, stud- ies found that immunotherapy may extend the duration of their lives by many months. In the near future, it is likely that advances in immunotherapy will be among the most important developments in the treatment of lung cancer. Lung cancer treatment will likely involve increasingly personalized treatments based on the genetic makeup and molecular markers specific to each pa- tient’s cancer. Survivorship There are more lung cancer survivors now than ever before due to the many recent ad- vances in cancer diagnosis and treatment. At Mary Bird Perkins TGMC Cancer Center in Houma, we focus on helping cancer survi- vors lead healthy, active and fulfilling lives. We work as a team to help lung cancer pa- tients live longer and healthier with expert treatment and compassionate care. n Jeffrey Long, MD, radiation oncologist, Mary Bird Perkins TGMC (Terrebonne General Medical Cen- ter) Cancer Center,obtained amedical degree at the University of Iowa College of Medicine.He completed a radiation oncology residency at the University of Iowa.Long is board certified in therapeutic radiology by theAmerican Board of Radiology.He has an eight- page professional curriculumvitae withmultiple pro- fessional publications, presentations and research. Long is actively involved with the Mary Bird Perkins TGMCCancer Center Cancer Committee andTumor Board and with the Chabert Medical Center Cancer Tumor Conference.