Doctor details treatment methods for lung cancer

Dozens of doctors convened in Merced on Wednesday night to hear the latest on lung cancer and the plans to improve patients' outcomes.

Dr. Heather Wakelee, an assistant professor for the Oncology Department at Stanford University, gave a talk about a comprehensive review of current standards in therapy for all stages of non-small-cell lung cancer and the results of the latest research that promises to improve the clinical outcomes of patients.

About 35 oncologists and family practitioners from the area attended the event at El Portal Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Wakelee, who conducts a lot of clinical research, said the fight against lung cancer is the furthest along than any other cancer. "We have made a lot of prog- ress," she said.

A few of the treatments now have helped patients live longer and have improved the quality of life for them as well, Wakelee said.

Five to six years ago, every patient with lung cancer would get the same chemotherapy, Wakelee said. Now, some patients are able to get a personalized treatment, others only get chemotherapy, or a combination of both.

"For patients we have a lot of exciting treatments now," she said.

Three years ago, doctors also began to target the genes the caused the cancer in some patients to better treat the disease.

There are other new strategies under development that will help tailor therapy to more individual patients.

Wakelee said she hopes that within the next few years every lung patient will be able to get a personalized treatment.

Wakelee said lung cancer is the deadliest type of cancer in both women and men, although women tend to do better for an unknown reason.

The disease kills more people than prostate, breast and colon cancer combined, she said.

"It tends to recur more often," she said, "and it's often found late."

The most common cause for lung cancer is cigarette smoking, Wakelee said. However, one-third of lung cancer patients are nonsmokers.

Wakelee said a small portion of those who don't smoke have a family history of lung cancer. Although, there're still no answers as to why exactly that is.

Also, an explanation hasn't been found that addresses why people who don't smoke and don't have a family history of lung cancer develop the disease.

"We are trying to figure that out," Wakelee said.

Lung cancer patients also could go from feeling almost no symptoms to being severely ill, she said. Others could have a cough or have a seizure and then find out that they have lung cancer.

It's important for people to know that lung cancer is a big problem, Wakelee said.

Reporter Yesenia Amaro can be reached at (209) 388-6507 or yamaro@mercedsun-star.com.

This story was originally published January 27, 2011 at 12:45 AM with the headline "Doctor details treatment methods for lung cancer."