Treating lung cancer: Which surgical option is best for you?
According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than from colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. If you have lung cancer, there are three options for treating it surgically: wedge resection, lobectomy or pneumonectomy. But how do you know which approach is best for you? “Many factors may affect this decision, including the size of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread, and how much of your lung the surgeon needs to remove,” says thoracic surgeon Ahmad Zeeshan, who treats patients at Cleveland Clinic Florida’s Weston-main campus. According to Dr. Zeeshan, it’s important to review each option in detail, along with what approach your surgeon will take. “The two main goals for any lung cancer surgery are to perform the best cancer operation for the patient, and to perform it safely,” he says. In addition to the three options for surgery, there are also three options to consider regarding the surgical approach or how the lung is removed. Thoracotomy is a traditional open approach that is more invasive but is a safe and effective form of lung cancer surgery. Minimally invasive options include video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and robotic-assisted thoracic surgery. “Surgeons treat most patients who have small or early-stage lung cancers with VATS or robotic-assisted surgery,” says Dr. Zeeshan. “But in some cases, the traditional open-chest approach is recommended. This could be when the tumor is very large, the cancer involves more than one lobe of the lung, the cancer involves other parts of the chest such as blood vessels or ribs, or if you have had a previous chest surgery or received chemotherapy and radiation as part of your lung cancer treatment prior to surgery.” What are the most important things to do to set yourself up for the best possible outcome? “Make sure you understand how your surgeon plans to approach your procedure, then keep yourself in good condition by eating well and staying active beforehand,” says Dr. Zeeshan.