Our approach to lung cancer is different.  We are a naturopathic clinic helping patients from across the country with holistic lung cancer treatments.  Dr. Bartell and his staff use detoxification and immune system supportive therapies to help restore health and balance to the body addressing the root causes of lung cancer.  Our holistic naturopathic approach utilizes only natural methods to help the body by supporting the it's own healing process.  This can be started even prior to early symptoms of lung cancer or when the symptoms of lung cancer are in the advanced late stages of lung cancer prognosis. When a patient is already taking chemotherapy, we work to help build up the immune system and support the vitality of the body during these lung cancer treatments.  This assists the body in it's fight against all types of lung cancer including cancer of the lung lining.  It is possible for the body to overcome a chronic disease such as lung cancer, if natural alternative medicine principles such as detoxification, support of the immune system, and physiological balance are accomplished. 

Early Symptoms of Lung Cancer:

Lung cancer symptoms (listed below) also apply to heavy smoking therefore, they are commonly ignored. Smokers should be aware of the following symptoms.

• A Persistent Cough and/or Coughing up Blood in the Mucus.

• A Noticed Change of Restriction in Breathing or Brethlessness.

• A Long Standing Cough that Changes

• Chest Pain (usually only in advanced stages)

• Weight Loss and loss of appetite (usually only in advanced stages)

• Unresolved Pneumonia, Lung Abscess, and Chronic chest Infection

• Neck Lymph Node Enlargement (only if the cancer has spread into the lymph system).

Causes of Lung Cancer:

Cancer information - Lung cancer is caused through cigarette smoking about 90 percent of the time and so is the most significant high risk factor. Other less common causes of lung cancer include environmental asbestos and pollution inhalation. Lung cancer causes the most cancer related deaths of all cancers around the world. About 80% of all lung cancers are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and more than 50% of these patients present with locally advanced or metastatic disease. Lung cancer survivors are lower than those for most other cancers, with an overall five-year survival rate of about 15 percent. Lung cancer survivor rates tend to be low because patients tend to ignore the early symptoms of lung cancer and only seek treatment when the disease is advanced and the patient is having final stage lung cancer symptoms.

Types of Lung Cancer:

There are many types of lung cancer, but most are categorized into two basic types small cell (SCLC) and non-small-cell (NSCLC) which is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for almost 80 percent of lung cancers. Small-cell lung cancer is generally faster growing than non-small-cell, and often treated with surgery and radiotherapy. Several different subtypes of non-small-cell lung cancer occur... squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma, and these are usually treated with chemotherapies (see below 'Lung Cancer Treatments').

• Squamous Carcinoma: 40-60% of all Lung Cancers, Strongly Associated with Smoking.  

• Adenocarcinoma: 10-25% of all Lung Cancers, Commonly Associated With Smoking.

• Large Cell Undifferentiated: 5-20% of Lung Cancers

• Small Cell Undifferentiated Carcinoma: 10-25% of all Lung Cancers, Strongly Associated With Smoking.

Facts about Lung Cancer:

Cancer of the lung (bronchogenic carcinoma) is responsible for 10% of all deaths in the US and makes up 40% of all cancer deaths.  Lung cancer is most common in men and those over 40 yrs of age. The overall 5 year survival rate of patients with lung cancer is only 10-20%.  Surgery is usually an option in about 30% of the cases and chemotherapy is commonly used as well.  Even when a patient is experiencing early symptoms lung cancer and has surgery in Stage I cancer, the five year survival rate is only 50%, stage II is 20-30%, and Stage III tumors only 5-10%.  Chemotherapy for squamous cell cancers and adenocarcinoma will usually only slow down lung cancer symtoms or growth of the cancer for a time. Lung cancer is the third most frequent form of cancer for both men and women.

Lung Cancer Treatments:

Carboplatin chemotherapy is the preferred standard drug for lung cancer and cisplatin is a close second. Carboplatin is an injected chemotherapy drug which is typically used to treat advanced lung cancer stages (III & IV).
The stage at which NSCLC is diagnosed determines which lung cancer treatments are offered to the patient. Other possible treatments for lung cancer include surgery but only early-stage (I and II) NSCLC can directly be surgically removed. This option offers the best five-year survival rates. However, the majority of patients who undergo surgery eventually relapse. In advanced stages (III) often chemo treatment prior to surgery is performed to achieve desired surgical results. Radiation (radiotherapy) may be used prior to surgery to achieve favorable surgical results, as well as after surgery to reduce the relapse time or for advanced NSCLC cases. Chemotherapy has become the preferred drug for lung cancer in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Effects of Lung Cancer Treatment:

Chemotherapy can improve overall short term survival time and contribute to an improvement in lung cancer symptoms. However, the optimal number of chemotherapy cycles that provide both a survival and quality of life advantage is unclear. As mentioned, chemotherapy can be delivered before or after surgery, also in combination with radiation. In approximately 40 percent of all advanced NSCLC patients, the disease progresses and does not respond to first-line chemotherapy. Patients usually receive second-line chemotherapy, with the objective to prolong their life, but should be used with caution due to the toxicity effect on the body which will decrease the patients quality of life. Chemotherapy is not considered a lung cancer cure.

Diagnostic Signs of Lung Cancer:

Diagnosis of lung cancer is usually done through testing of fluid taken from the lungs, chest x-ray, CT scan, a visual scope of the lungs, direct biopsy, needle biopsy, and also biopsy of enlarged neck lymph nodes.  Diagnosis will be confirmed through cell and tissue testing which will determine the type and cancer stages lung cancer is given.  

Early lung cancer detection can be done through a CT lung screening which is highly superior to conventional x-ray; lung cancer can be detected at a very early stage (see picture to right). Only 14% of all lung cancer nodules that are detected on CT screening were visible on conventional chest x-rays. Thus, CT lung screening results in the detection of more tumors at an earlier stages of lung cancer. The five year survival for patients with tumors detected by low-dose CT is 70-80% which is much better than the usual 12% 5-year survival rate for patients with stages of lung cancer diagnosed after lung cancer symptoms are noticed.

Several examinations may be carried out to diagnose lung cancer and to ascertain its severity even when symptoms of lung cancer are not present. These include:

People at high risk for developing lung cancer are smokers that have smoked an average of one pack of cigarettes daily during the past ten years. Smoking is the main risk factor for lung cancer. Other risk factors include...

Stages of Lung Cancer:

NSCLC is divided into four stages:

Summary:

If you have had lung cancer signs-symptoms or have been diagnosed with lung cancer and have not found hope or help with your health condition, tour our website and learn more about our clinic and our natural holistic approach using alternative medicine. We believe that every person can be helped when the body is able to return to balance.  Phone consultations can also be scheduled with Dr. Bartell to determine if natural holistic medicine can help you.

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