Antonio never imagined it back pain which will begin in the summer of 2018 An early sign of something much more serious. “They thought it was a muscle contraction,” he recalls, but after several tests, including a PET scan, he received a devastating diagnosis: a Non-small cell lung carcinomawith metastases to D4 and D5 vertebrae. The news was confirmed after a biopsy performed by a neurosurgeon, who cleared everything he could.
They explained to me that this type of carcinoma was “unusualand consequently The prognosis of evolution will depend on the success of treatment. The cursed word, “cancer”, is fascinating but I thought it was time not to think about it but to “take care” of it. Consequently, it was time for a second opinion that was as “prestigious” as possible. They told me it was in Spain 12 October CRIS immuno-oncology unit co-director Dr. Luis Paz-Ares. Dr. Paz-Ares confirmed the diagnosis and explained to me that the evolution of the disease would depend on the treatment and New drugs are being investigated. I realized this and came to the conclusion that I was facing a chronic but manageable disease depending on the response to those treatments and I was in the best hands.
The only viable option for treating metastasis was proton therapy, an advanced technique offered at the time only in clinics in Bologna and Switzerland.
Their fight started from there Chemotherapy treatment: Eight hour long sessions every three weeks. Although the process was difficult, she endured it with determination. But it was confirmed in the second session Chemotherapy was not working and he switched to immunotherapy treatmentWhich will continue till November 2020. During this period, the treatment eradicated the primary lung tumor, but failed to eradicate the spinal metastasis.
© Getty Images“I received such a high radiation load in my spine that a new session could leave me in a wheelchair,” the doctors explained. D Proton therapy was the only effective treatment option for metastasisAn advanced technique that at the time was offered only in clinics in Bologna and Switzerland. However, he was lucky enough to access this treatment at the Clinica Universidad de Navarra in Madrid, where he completed it in May 2021.By August, reports said it was ‘clean’“, Antonio said, although the “damn metastasis” reappeared at the January check-up.
Since I have no side effects of any kind, I try to live a completely normal life with the dependence of going to Madrid every two weeks for treatment.
The war continued. with Support for Dr. Paz-Ares and Chris Against Cancerr, Antonio included a Immunotherapy clinical trialsWhere he has so far received 49 two-hour sessions every two weeks. since then, Managed to eradicate metastases which spread to other organs such as the liver, peritoneum, duodenum and pancreas, the latter with the help of radiotherapy.
Today, thank you Access to advances in research and cutting-edge treatmentsAntonio lives a practically normal life. “To date, the last two CT scans have not revealed any injuries,” he noted. Since I have no side effects of any kind, I try to live a very normal life without going to Madrid for treatment every two weeks. But take the opportunity to relax and enjoy the shows of the capital.
Lung cancer, a disease that is no longer a death sentence
Antonio’s testimony is one of many Lung cancer which occurs in our country (more than 32,000 a year according to the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology). Mortality in this disease is one of the reasons Difficulty in achieving early diagnosis, As the disease usually occurs The initial stage is asymptomatic and is detected when it has already reached an advanced state. However, efforts by the scientific and medical community to change this reality are yielding results. Research and advances in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of these diseases open doors of hope for patients and their families.
to celebrate World Lung Cancer DayTo be held on November 17, which we have spoken to Alvaro Usero, researcher at the CRIS Foundation Against Cancer. This expert is a molecular biologist at the CRIS Immuno-Oncology Unit of the Hospital 12 d’Octobre and he will explain the types of lung cancer as well as how the advances in treatment are managing to transform this oncological disease into a chronic pathology without a death sentence. .
Small cell lung cancer is the most aggressive, accounting for 15% of cases and almost exclusively associated with smoking.
Types of lung cancer and their characteristics
This is important to understand Lung cancer is not a single diseasebut includes different types. The first basic classification divides the disease into two major categories:
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): represents About 85% of cases and can develop in smokers and nonsmokers. This type groups different subtypes such as adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma. Although they all affect lung cells, the characteristics of each of these subtypes influence treatment strategies.
© Getty ImagesSmall cell lung cancer (SMC): This type of cancer, less common but more aggressive, Account for 15% of cases and is almost exclusively associated with smoking. MPC cells tend to divide more rapidly, which spreads to other organs sooner and complicates treatment.
Advances in early diagnosis
As we expected, Early diagnosis is a key factor in the fight against lung cancerBecause it significantly increases the chances of survival. Screening programs, designed to detect disease at an early stage, are demonstrating their effectiveness in at-risk populations, e.g Current and former smokers. Thus, through the use of low-dose CT scans, the disease can be detected before it is too advanced and surgical treatment can be applied that allows removal of the tumor and This results in improved survival rates.
In some cases, patients receive neoadjuvant treatment prior to surgery, permitting The tumor is shrinking and it is weakIncrease the likelihood of intervention success. These treatments, which may include ImmunotherapyIt has established itself as an effective tool in the treatment of lung cancer that would otherwise be ineffective.
Targeted therapies act on specific mutations in tumor cells, they are a clear example of personalized medicine: they allow cancer cells to be precisely attacked without affecting healthy cells as much.
Targeted therapy: a revolution in treatment
One of the most significant advances in oncology has been its development Targeted therapyThere is a treatment method that has revolutionized the management of non-small cell lung cancer in particular. These therapies, which act on specific mutations in tumor cells, are a clear example of personalized medicine: they allow cancer cells to be precisely attacked, without affecting healthy cells as much. Reduces side effects and improves patients’ quality of life.
Similarly, targeted treatments have been shown Especially useful in advanced casesUnfortunately, however, it is common for cancer cells to develop resistance over time. Despite these limitations, they represent a fundamental treatment option for patients who can benefit from them.
© Getty ImagesRole of immunotherapy in lung cancer
Another great man A breakthrough in the treatment of lung cancer is immunotherapywhat are you looking for Activate the immune system Attack the patient’s tumor cells. This therapy is particularly important in cases where there are no mutations treatable by targeted therapy. Similarly, immunotherapy is a first-line option in patients diagnosed with the disease Advanced lung cancer.
This treatment can be administered alone or internally Combination with chemotherapy And survival has been shown to be prolonged in certain cases. Almost all lung cancer patients will receive immunotherapy during the course of the disease. It is not equally effective in all patients, but it can work for a long time.
Advances in minimally invasive surgery and radiotherapy
On the other hand, it happened Technological progress Which, luckily, there is Lung cancer benefits from surgical and radiotherapy interventions. Thanks for the new trick Minimally invasive surgeryIt is possible to operate with small incisions and precision that minimizes damage to surrounding tissues. This translates to a Quick recovery and in better preservation of respiratory function after surgery, which represents an important advance in patients’ quality of life.
D RadiotherapyFor its part, has evolved significantly. With new imaging and application technologies, it is possible to precisely direct the radiation beam to the tumor, minimizing the impact on surrounding healthy tissue. With this method, higher doses of radiation can be used and reduce the number of sessions required, increasing the effectiveness of the treatment and reducing its side effects. In this case, for example, of Proton therapy, a revolution In the treatment of certain types of cancer, such as lung cancer.
Thanks to advances in genomic and molecular research of specific mutations, personalized treatment with greater chances of success and fewer adverse effects
Importance of precision medicine
Targeted therapies are an example of precision medicineAnd we must not forget that it allows treatment to be personalized according to the individual characteristics of the patient and their tumor. thank you Advances in genomic and molecular researchIt is possible to detect it today Specific mutations That leads to cancer growth in some patients, which allows us to design Personalized treatment with a high probability of success And Fewer adverse effects. The integration of this precision medicine into the treatment of lung cancer has expanded the available therapeutic options and brought new hope to many patients.
© Getty ImagesPrevention and risk factors
Despite all the advances in lung cancer treatment, Prevention is one of the most effective tools In the fight against this disease. he smoking Major risk factors, and although Tobacco control policies and awareness campaigns Contributed to reducing their costs, the risk remains in those who have smoked for many years. Additionally, other factors such as environmental pollution and exposure to radon gas can also increase the risk of this disease.
Regarding vaccination, although there is no preventive vaccine for lung cancer, they are being dDevelopment of pioneering research for vaccine development That can personalize treatment and Reduces the chance of relapse in some types of cancer. An innovative example is AndClinical Trials Led by CRIS Foundation Against Cancer in collaboration with University of Oxfordwhich seeks to prevent relapses in lung cancer patients through a means Personalized vaccines.
