- We will be able to use a drug that increases the chance of healing by almost 90%. There are new drugs for patients with advanced lung cancer, and there is a breakthrough for patients with mesothelioma. There has been a revolution in the treatment of lung cancer, something incredible has happened that we could not even dream of a few years ago, says prof. Darius M. Kowalski.
prof. Dariusz M. Kowalski is the head of the conservative department of the Lung and Chest Cancer Clinic of the National Institute of Oncology-National Research Institute in Warsaw, he is the President of the Polish Lung Cancer Group.
Katarzyna Pinkos, Wprost: Several changes have been made to the January list of benefits for lung cancer patients. How do you rate it?
prof. Darius M. Kowalski: Many very positive changes for patients: new molecules for treatment are introduced. Some drugs will be available for new indications, including curative treatment (treatment to cure cancer). It is also very important to organize the entire drug program: it has become clearer and friendlier for both patients and doctors.
From organizational changes: it will be possible to conduct computed tomography (CT) of the chest and abdominal organs less frequently in patients whose treatment lasts for a long time and whose condition is stable.
Performing a CT scan so often did not make sense and exposed the patient to the side effects of the CT scan. It will also not be necessary to conduct laboratory tests as often if the patient is in a stable condition. I am also very glad that it will be possible to treat a patient with so-called. oligometastatic disease - that was the idea of the Polish Lung Cancer Group.
Source: Wprost
