The rapid development of medicine, especially oncology, the development and implementation of innovative therapeutic methods and drugs into clinical practice have led to remarkable successes in the treatment of lung sarcoma. Until recently, this disease was among the most aggressive malignant pathologies, and its detection was associated with a very unfavorable prognosis. Treatment of lung sarcoma in Israel using organ-preserving surgeries, modern radiation technologies, and the latest low-toxicity chemotherapy drugs allows for normalization of the patient's condition in more than 85% of cases, alleviation of painful symptoms, and achievement of sustained remission.
The detection of the tumour and the provision of comprehensive therapy at an early stage of the disease is of great importance. This requires a comprehensive examination of the patient, conducted on modern equipment in Israeli medical centers in just a few days. During the diagnostic procedures, the localization of the neoplasm, its characteristics affecting the selection of effective therapy methods are accurately determined. Patients who have undergone treatment leave reviews that serve as convincing evidence of the high quality of therapy, the comfortable conditions of its provision, and the attentiveness and friendliness of the medical staff. The reasonable cost, accessible to most foreign patients, is also emphasized.
Treatment methods for the disease
Lung sarcoma is a rare malignant neoplasm that develops from the connective tissue elements of the bronchial walls and interalveolar septa. The disease is characterized by extreme aggressiveness, rapid growth, and early development of metastasis. Lung sarcoma is most often diagnosed in men aged 20 to 40 years, but it can develop in patients of any gender and age group. This oncological disease is particularly aggressive in childhood.
Various causes of the disease are identified, primarily exposure to ionizing and ultraviolet radiation, chemical carcinogens (asbestos, aniline dyes, and others). Smokers, residents of industrial cities with polluted air, sunbathers, and those who frequent tanning salons are also at risk. Hereditary predisposition plays a role as well.
Lung sarcoma can be either primary, originating from the tissues of the organ itself, or secondary, or metastatic, which is much more common and develops as a result of the spread of malignant cells from a primary tumour site located in the reproductive organs, bones, or muscles.
The symptoms of lung sarcoma are generally similar to those of lung cancer but develop at an accelerated pace. Patients may experience cough, hemoptysis, shortness of breath, chest pain, weakness, loss of appetite, and weight loss. When the malignant process spreads to neighboring organs, dysphagia, hemorrhagic pleuritis or pericarditis, and superior vena cava syndrome may develop. In some patients, symptoms of lung involvement are overshadowed by pulmonary osteoarthropathy, manifesting as joint pain and deformity of the nail phalanges of the fingers.
The therapeutic scheme includes surgical removal of the tumour, chemotherapy, radiation, and courses of targeted drugs.
Surgical treatment
If the patient is operable, surgical removal of the neoplasm is necessarily included in the treatment scheme. The following types of surgeries are used:
- lobectomy — removal of the affected lobe of the lung, indicated in cases of small tumour size, performed using thoracoscopy — an endoscopic operation requiring a small incision through which a thoracoscope is inserted into the pleural cavity;
- pulmonectomy — removal of the entire lung, indicated in cases of large size and advanced stage of the tumour, spread of the malignant process, performed both endoscopically and openly, requiring chest cavity opening;
- palliative surgeries — surgical interventions performed to alleviate painful symptoms in patients at the terminal stage, when complete surgical removal of the tumour focus is impossible (pleurocentesis, tracheostomy, palliative resection of the tumour).
Removal of the affected lobe or the entire lung is performed in conjunction with the removal of regional lymph nodes.
Stereotactic radiosurgery
If there are reasons that make surgical operation impossible, a full alternative is the radiosurgical procedure performed on the CyberKnife robotic system. Multiple low-power radioactive beams are directed at the tumour focus, the localization of which is precisely calculated before the procedure. When focused on the neoplasm, their doses are summed and reach a level sufficient to destroy the pathological tissues. Patient safety is ensured by the insufficient dose of individual beams to damage normal tissues. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, without anesthesia.
Radiotherapy
To reduce the size of the tumour to operable dimensions before surgical intervention, standard external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is performed. In cases of inoperability, as well as for palliative treatment, radiotherapy using the SBRT technology is prescribed, which allows for positive results in more than 90% of cases with tumour sizes up to 6 centimeters and a number of tumour foci not exceeding five. The advantages of this method include maximum precision in affecting the entire surface of the neoplasm, automatic correction of beam direction with minimal changes in the patient's body position.
In Israeli clinics, radiotherapy is increasingly performed using the SIRT technology, where radioisotopes are injected into the pulmonary blood vessels associated with the tumour.
Chemotherapy
Sarcomas have sufficient resistance to the action of chemotherapy drugs; however, as practice shows, including chemotherapy courses in the treatment program significantly increases its effectiveness. Usually, chemotherapy is prescribed in conjunction with radiation to reduce the size of the neoplasm before its surgical removal. In addition, chemotherapy is indicated in cases of inoperability and after surgical removal of the tumour to prevent recurrence.
Targeted therapy
Targeted drugs have proven to be very effective in the treatment of sarcomas. The feature of these agents is their targeted action exclusively on pathological cells without damaging normal ones. Targeted drugs that belong to the group of angiogenesis inhibitors (formation of blood vessel networks) are used for the treatment of lung sarcoma.
Modern methods of disease diagnosis
A comprehensive examination of the patient and the development of a therapy scheme are usually performed in Israel within three days.
At the initial consultation with the leading pulmonologist, which takes place on the first day of the patient's stay in the clinic, the doctor performs a superficial examination and clarifies the nature and severity of the symptoms. The consultation concludes with the appointment of the necessary examinations.
The execution of the assigned diagnostic procedures:
- laboratory blood tests;
- ultrasound examination (US) of the lungs, abdominal organs, and pelvic cavity;
- imaging studies (X-ray, CT, MRI, PET-CT);
- endoscopic studies (bronchoscopy, thoracoscopy);
- biopsy with subsequent histological analysis of the obtained material;
- angiography;
- bone scintigraphy.
The results of the studies are reviewed by a medical council, which includes a pulmonologist, oncologist, and narrow-profile specialists. After analyzing the indicators, the doctors collectively establish a diagnosis and develop a therapy scheme.
How much does treatment for the disease cost
The price of the therapeutic course invariably interests foreign patients. Treatment in Israeli clinics costs about 30% less than in Western European medical centers and provides savings of about 50% of the amount required in the USA.
Advantages of treatment in Israel
- High qualification and extensive experience of doctors.
- Equipping clinics with modern therapeutic and diagnostic equipment.
- Mastery of progressive treatment methods.
- Comfortable conditions.
- Affordable prices.
The prognosis of the disease significantly improves with adequate therapy at early stages. Don't waste time, contact an Israeli clinic, and trust your treatment to the leading oncologists in the world.