/kloc-Ms. Cai, 0/60 years old, was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer two years ago. When she heard that chemotherapy was needed, Ms. Cai was worried that there would be side effects such as hair loss and discomfort. At one point, she tried to escape treatment. Later, she was confirmed as ALK-positive lung cancer patient through genetic testing, and she had the appropriate target drug for treatment, thus regaining her confidence. After 1 year treatment, the tumor shrank smoothly, and her dream of traveling to Europe came true.
The first step in the treatment of advanced lung cancer: genetic testing
Academician Peng Wangjiakang, vice chairman of Taiwan Province Cancer Foundation, a consortium legal person, pointed out that the latest cancer registration report pointed out that more than 50% of patients with advanced lung cancer were found in the late stage, mainly because there were no obvious symptoms in the early stage of lung cancer, and many patients failed to find it early.
However, with the progress of medical treatment, more and more pathogenic genes have been discovered and corresponding targeted drugs have been developed. As long as cancer friends carry out genetic screening as soon as possible and discuss treatment strategies with doctors, it will help to prolong the survival period. Since June this year 165438+ 10, the medical insurance department has relaxed the payment of ALK target drugs for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. As long as ALK is diagnosed as positive, medical insurance will be provided from the front line, which will enable patients to control their illness.
Dr. Chen Yumin, chairman of Taiwan Province Lung Cancer Society, said that in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, surgery can be performed in the early stage, and targeted therapy is often used in the late stage. At present, the pathogenic genes of advanced non-small cell lung cancer include EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), ALK (denatured lymphokinase) and ROS- 1 (transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine kinase), all of which can be treated with targeted drugs. In the past, many patients were diagnosed with cancer and the EGFR gene was tested first. If the test result is negative, other genetic tests will be conducted. However, it is suggested that cancer friends can screen EGFR, ALK and ROS- 1 genes at the same time after diagnosis, so that it is not necessary to take tumor samples repeatedly, shorten the detection process and strive for more treatment time.
Doctors remind: avoid long-term exposure to the environment with PM2.5 concentration above 35 μ g/m3.
Dr. Gao Shangzhi, chairman of the Taiwan Province Society of Clinical Oncology, reminded that studies have confirmed that if lung cancer patients are exposed to the environment with PM2.5 concentration above 35 μ g/m3 for a long time, their symptoms will easily worsen, thus further increasing the mortality rate. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the impact of air pollution on health.
For patients with advanced lung cancer, as long as genetic screening is carried out as soon as possible and treatment strategies are discussed with doctors, it will help to prolong the survival time. The World Health Organization reminds that exposure to excessive concentrations of PM2.5 will easily increase the mortality rate of lung cancer by 15%!