Not so long ago, lung cancer was considered totally incurable and quickly fatal. As discussed at a recent meeting by leading lung cancer physicians from around the world, the scene has changed.
Dr. Purvish Parikh commented in his presentation that the average five-year survival rate of all lung cancers taken together is now 27%. Newer drugs and molecular targets are helping more and more patients.
Targeted treatment
All tumours are now tested for mutations, and up to half show genetic mutations. Most of these can be treated effectively with targeted agents, which do not have the side effects of chemotherapy. We are no longer shooting bullets in the dark.
“We saw the introduction of newer oral drugs back in 2001, while I was doing my fellowship at the Lung Cancer Unit, Evanston Hospital, Chicago. With the passage of time, the research has borne fruit. Long-term survival with a good quality of life is becoming a reality now.”