New Procedures Increase Quality Of Life For Lung Cancer Patients

The Praxair Cancer Center and the sections of Thoracic Surgery and Pulmonary Medicine at Danbury Hospital are employing several advanced treatments to increase quality of life for their patients, most recently a procedure to improve breathing for a patient with lung cancer.

 Michael Walker, MD, chief of thoracic surgery and a lung cancer specialist, performed the bronchial stent surgery as part of the hospital’s growing capabilities for endo-bronchial management of advanced lung cancer.  The hospital typically treats more than 100 cases of bronchus and lung cancer each year; many of these patients experience uncomfortable symptoms that can be managed with several recent medical advances.

 “Sometimes lung cancer can leave patients with uncomfortable side effects – such as shortness of breath, a persistent cough, pneumonia or bleeding – that significantly alter their quality of life,” Dr Walker said. “Fortunately, more advanced therapies are now available, as well as a combination of several therapies when appropriate, to provide some relief from discomfort.”

  During the procedure, Dr Walker places a stent (a small, flexible tube) in the airway to open it up.  The stent is positioned in the bronchi, the two main branches leading from the trachea to the lungs, providing a more open passageway for improved breathing.  The procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis under either sedation or general anesthesia.

 Most recently performed on a local resident in June, bronchial stent surgery can provide almost immediate relieve from uncomfortable symptoms.  “I struggled to breathe before I had the procedure.  The surgery was very effective.  I have experienced a major improvement in my level of comfort for normal daily activities,” the patient said.

 Together with his colleague, pulmonologist Eric Jimenez, MD, Dr Walker noted two other procedures available at Danbury Hospital also are showing promise for the management of advanced lung cancer. Photodynamic Therapy is a two-part treatment comprised of a photosensitive drug and an endoscopy procedure using a non-thermal laser light. The photochemical reaction between the drug and the non-thermal laser kills cancer cells without damaging surrounding normal tissue. This treatment can contribute to the relief of airway obstruction and bleeding within a few days, and can be repeated as an effective means to control the growth of cancer where other options are not available, according to Dr Walker.

 Additionally, cryosurgery or cryotherapy – the use of extreme cold to destroy cancer cells – employs liquid nitrogen, which is circulated through an instrument called a cryoprobe.  The cryoprobe is placed in contact with the tumor under direct vision, allowing the preservation of normal, healthy tissue.  Crotherapy is typically performed in the endoscopy suite as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia with conscious sedation.

“Cryotherapy offers an option for treating cancers that are considered inoperable or that do not respond to standard treatments, while requiring a shorter hospital stay and recovery time,” said Dr Jimenez.  “Additionally, it can be safely repeated and combined with other standard treatments.”

 For information about these procedures, call Danbury Hospital’s Department of Pulmonary Medicine at 797-7070 or the Section of Thoracic Surgery at 797-1811.  For information about other services at Danbury Hospital, visit our web site at www.danburyhospital.org.