The importance of supportive therapy in the treatment of lung cancer cannot be overemphasized.
• Quite clearly, malnutrition results in a bad outcome in patients with lung cancer. Patients must be served
palatable meals and attempts must be made to work with patients to determine food likes and dislikes.
• Pain control is of critical importance, and the tools to achieve control are available even for the most advanced
cases. These include the use of pain-relieving (analgesic) drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents,
mild narcotics , strong narcotics, continuous narcotics and narcotics delivered into the spinal canal (epidural).
Pain control can generally be achieved without interfering with mental competence.
• Nausea can be controlled with a variety of drugs ( see Coping with Treatment Side Effects ).
• Physical therapy will help maintain muscle strength to keep life as normal as possible.
Maintaining the Quality of Life In the management of lung cancer (as well as all other malignancies), it is critical that the patient maintain as high a quality of life as possible. Patients must feel that they are contributing members of society.
Being with family and friends, going out to meals and movies and participating in enjoyable recreational events are all important parts of maintaining lifestyle. Family members and physicians should try to provide as much of this as possible. With the services now available, it is usually possible to maintain these goals.
