What are the treatment options for a lung lesion in my father?

Question

Hi doctor,

My father is a 65-year-old male with a long history of smoking. Recently, he started having a persistent cough, hoarseness of voice, and loss of appetite. He also complains of pain in the chest, which increases while coughing. His CT scan report mentioned a possible mass lesion in the upper lobe of the lung. We are very scared and waiting for the biopsy result. If it turns out to be lung cancer, how do doctors decide on the stage and treatment options? Is surgery possible at this age, or are only chemotherapy and radiation used?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Symptoms such as persistent cough, hoarseness of voice, chest pain while coughing, and loss of appetite in someone with a long smoking history do require careful evaluation. A CT (computed tomography) scan showing a possible mass in the lung means doctors need to confirm the exact nature of the lesion, and the biopsy you are waiting for is the correct next step. Only a biopsy can confirm whether it is lung cancer or another condition. If the biopsy confirms lung cancer, the next step doctors take is staging.

Staging means determining how large the tumor is and whether it has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body. This is usually done using CT scans, sometimes PET (positron emission tomography) scans, and occasionally other tests depending on the situation. The stage helps doctors decide the most appropriate treatment plan.

Regarding treatment, age alone does not prevent surgery. I have treated patients in their late 60s and even 70s who successfully underwent lung cancer surgery when the disease was detected at an early stage, and their general health and lung function were adequate.

If the tumor is localized and the patient is fit for surgery, removing that portion of the lung can be the best treatment option. If the cancer is more advanced or surgery is not suitable, doctors may recommend chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these treatments.

The final treatment decision depends on the stage of the cancer, the patient’s overall health, lung function, and the specific type of lung cancer found on biopsy.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.