Palliative therapy for lung cancer

In many patients, lung cancer is only detected at a very late stage, when no more therapy promises a cure. However, palliative therapy can give these patients a large part of their quality of life back and often give them more time to live. It was found that the earlier a palliative therapy concept was integrated into the treatment of the patient, the higher the patient’s overall survival and quality of life.

In the case of lung tumors that are so localized that they impair the patient’s breathing, various measures can be considered to improve the situation. For example, stents can be inserted into the airways. These are tubular wire or plastic meshes designed to keep the airways open at the point where they are compressed by the tumor.

Radioactive substances can also be inserted locally in the immediate vicinity of the tumor, where they inhibit further growth. Of course, adequate pain therapy is also part of the palliative treatment concept for lung cancer. For this purpose, painkillers can be administered in tablet form, as patches or even as catheters directly to the spinal cord.

Since lung cancer often forms metastases in the bone, this can also cause unpleasant pain that should be treated. Not only conventional painkillers are used for this purpose, but also bisphosphonates. These are drugs that prevent bone resorption and thus contribute to greater stability of the affected bones.In addition, bone metastases can be irradiated specifically, which also improves stability and pain.

Palliative therapy for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and most difficult to treat tumor diseases. This is mainly due to the fact that this disease is usually only diagnosed at a very advanced stage when therapeutic concepts leading to a cure no longer have any effect. Patients in this situation usually receive palliative chemotherapy with the active substance gemcitabine, since this substance limits tumor growth locally and can significantly improve the patient’s quality of life.

Pancreatic cancer often leads to pain, which should be counteracted with a well adjusted pain therapy. Tablets, drops, patches and pain catheters can be used for this purpose. In addition, pancreatic cancer can become problematic if it has grown to the point where it compresses the excretory duct of the gallbladder, the stomach outlet or the duodenum.

This can lead to a dangerous intestinal obstruction (ileus) and to a build-up of bile with jaundice (icterus). A palliative intervention can then help. For this purpose, stents – i.e. tubular wire or plastic braids – are inserted into the constriction in order to keep the opening of the duct or intestine continuous.

In this way, the typical complications of pancreatic cancer can be prevented. The destruction of the pancreatic tissue also has an effect on the patient’s metabolism. Palliative therapy therefore includes nutritional therapy with replacement of the important enzymes and vitamins, as well as – if necessary – diabetes treatment. If there is a more severe narrowing of the stomach outlet, the patient can be given a feeding tube in the intestine through which he can continue to be fed. In addition, psychosocial support and drug treatment of accompanying symptoms such as nausea and anxiety are part of the palliative therapy concept for pancreatic cancer.