According to Dr. Nguyen Tien Sy, Oncologist at Tam Anh General Clinic, District 7, lung cancer cells can travel through the lymphatic system or bloodstream and spread to the bones, a condition known as bone metastasis. While there's no cure for lung cancer that has spread to the bones, several treatments can alleviate symptoms, improve quality of life, and extend survival.

Chemotherapy is the most common systemic treatment. Chemotherapy drugs attack cancer cells, shrink tumors, slow cancer progression, and reduce symptoms. However, these drugs also affect healthy cells, leading to side effects like nausea, loss of taste, and hair loss.

Targeted therapy uses drugs or substances that target specific molecules crucial for cancer cell growth and spread. Dr. Sy explains that some cancers, including lung cancer, grow faster due to overactivation of specific proteins like EGFR and ALK. Targeted therapies can block or reduce the activity of these proteins, slowing or stopping cancer cell growth. These therapies have fewer side effects because they affect healthy cells less.

Dr. Sy consults with a patient. Illustrative photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Dr. Sy consults with a patient. Illustrative photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Immunotherapy helps the immune system identify and attack cancer cells. Immunotherapy drugs "mark" cancer cells, enhancing the ability of immune cells to destroy them.

Bone-modifying agents strengthen bones and prevent bone-related complications like pain, fractures, and hypercalcemia. Bisphosphonates inhibit bone-resorbing cells, reducing bone loss and strengthening bones. Denosumab, a monoclonal antibody with a similar mechanism, also reduces pain and fracture risk and is especially suitable for patients with kidney problems, according to Dr. Sy.

Radioisotope therapy uses radioactive substances like Strontium-89 or Radium-223, which target areas of bone damaged by metastasis. The radioactive substance is injected intravenously, accumulating in the affected bones and destroying cancer cells.

Radiation therapy uses directed radiation beams to kill cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissue, reducing symptoms, and slowing cancer progression. It helps control tumor growth, reduce pain, and alleviate spinal cord or nerve compression caused by bone metastasis, improving quality of life and suppressing cancer development.

Surgery may involve techniques like bone fixation with screws and plates or vertebroplasty, where biological cement is injected into the bone. Surgery aims to stabilize fractured bones, prevent further fractures caused by cancer, and relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves caused by tumors. This reduces pain, limits the risk of limb weakness, and addresses bowel or bladder dysfunction.

Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life for patients with metastatic lung cancer and their families. It reduces the burden of the disease, manages symptoms beyond pain (such as fatigue, loss of appetite, and shortness of breath), and provides psychological support.

Dr. Sy adds that in addition to these treatments, patients may benefit from physical therapy to maintain mobility, reduce joint stiffness, improve muscle strength, and support movement and daily activities.

Nguyen Tram