Lung cancer is among the most common cancers in India, and in Mumbai – with its air pollution, a large population of smokers and many non-smokers who are also diagnosed – it is a cancer families are increasingly worried about. Treatment is often long and demanding, and breathlessness, cough, tiredness and poor appetite can make each day harder than the last.
This page explains what treatment usually involves, the side effects people commonly face, and how complementary homeopathic cancer care at Welling Homeopathy can sit alongside – never in place of – the plan made by your oncology team.
How lung cancer is usually treated
Treatment depends on whether the cancer is non-small cell (the majority) or small cell, its stage, and molecular tests such as EGFR, ALK and PD-L1. Your oncology team may recommend:
- Surgery – removal of part or all of a lung for early-stage disease.
- Chemotherapy – commonly platinum drugs (cisplatin or carboplatin) with pemetrexed, paclitaxel or etoposide, given in cycles every three weeks or so.
- Radiation therapy – conventional radiotherapy or stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), alone or together with chemotherapy, and to relieve symptoms such as pain or bleeding.
- Targeted therapy – tablets such as EGFR or ALK inhibitors for cancers with those changes.
- Immunotherapy – drugs such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab that help the immune system recognise cancer cells.
- Palliative and supportive care – relief of breathlessness, pain, cough and distress at any stage of illness.
Common side effects of treatment
Side effects differ from person to person and depend on the drugs, doses and your general health. Your oncology team can often prevent or reduce many of them with medicines and supportive measures, so always report symptoms early.
Chemotherapy
- Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite
- Severe fatigue and breathlessness
- Hair loss and mouth sores
- Low blood counts with infection risk, anaemia and bruising
- Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
- Kidney strain and ringing in the ears with cisplatin (monitored by your team)
Radiation therapy
- Sore throat and pain on swallowing (oesophagitis)
- Cough, breathlessness and, in some people, radiation pneumonitis weeks after treatment
- Skin redness and soreness in the treated area
- Fatigue and weight loss
Targeted therapy and immunotherapy
- Skin rash, acne-like eruptions and dry skin, diarrhoea and mouth ulcers with EGFR inhibitors
- Cough or new breathlessness (pneumonitis), diarrhoea, rashes, thyroid and other hormone problems with immunotherapy – these must be reported to your oncologist immediately
- Joint pain, tiredness and swelling in the legs
How complementary homeopathic care fits in
Complementary care means supportive treatment given together with your oncology treatment. At Welling Homeopathy the aim is to help you feel as well as possible during and after treatment: easing symptoms and side effects where we can, supporting appetite, energy and sleep, and helping you keep up your quality of life so that you can carry on with the treatment your doctors have planned.
What does the research say? Research on homeopathy for the side effects of cancer treatment is limited. A few small studies of particular remedies (for example for radiation skin reactions or mouth sores) have been reported, but good-quality evidence is lacking, and homeopathy has not been shown to treat or cure cancer. For this reason we use homeopathic care only as a complement, and never as a replacement for surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted, hormonal or immune therapy, or for the advice of your oncologist.
ImmunoKnife™ Homeopathy Treatment Process
ImmunoKnife™ is the speciality homeopathic treatment process for cancers developed by Dr. Sourabh Welling at Welling Research Labs in Mumbai and practised at the Welling cancer clinics. Our approach looks at the whole person – the disease, the treatment you are having, your symptoms and your constitution – and is aimed at easing cough, breathlessness, weakness and poor appetite, relieving the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, and supporting overall quality of life. It is offered as supportive care around your oncology treatment, and your oncologist should always be told about it.
Over 25 years of experience treating patients
Dr. Sourabh Welling, founder of Welling Homeopathy, has been treating patients for more than 25 years, including people living with cancer and going through chemotherapy and radiation. In a first consultation he and his team take a detailed history – your diagnosis and treatment plan, your symptoms, your past health and your personality – so that supportive care is planned around you and not around a standard list.
Practical ways to feel better during treatment
- Stop smoking and avoid smoke and dust – ask your doctor for help to quit; it improves breathing, treatment response and healing.
- Breathing exercises and pacing – pursed-lip breathing, short walks and planned rests help breathlessness; a physiotherapist can teach you safe techniques.
- Sit upright and keep the room airy – raise the head of the bed and avoid crowded, polluted places on days when the air quality is poor.
- Small, frequent, high-protein meals – breathlessness makes large meals tiring; soups, shakes, eggs, dal and curd are easier to manage.
- Vaccinations and infection care – ask your oncologist about flu and pneumonia vaccines, and report fever or chest infections early.
- Manage pain and cough – do not just put up with them; your team can prescribe effective medicines and refer you for palliative care.
- Emotional support – anxiety and low mood are common; counselling and family support help.
When to call your oncologist or go to hospital urgently
Do not wait for a homeopathic appointment if you have any of the following – contact your oncology team or go to the nearest hospital:
- Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or above
- Sudden or worsening breathlessness, or breathlessness at rest
- Coughing up blood
- Chest pain, rapid heartbeat or swelling of one leg
- Blue lips, confusion or drowsiness
- New severe diarrhoea, rash or breathlessness while on immunotherapy
Consultation in Mumbai
Mumbai’s traffic, pollution and long commutes can make attending treatment tiring for someone with lung disease. We schedule visits around your treatment, and online consultations are available so you can seek supportive guidance without extra travel. You can meet us at our Mumbai clinics (see the Contact page for current addresses and hours), or consult online from wherever you are being treated. Please bring your reports, your treatment plan and a list of everything you are taking.
Going through lung cancer treatment in Mumbai? Talk to us before or during your treatment.
Our experts will study your reports, your symptoms and your treatment plan, and explain honestly how supportive homeopathic care can help you through chemotherapy or radiation and in recovery afterwards.
Call +91 8080 850 950 for a 1:1 personal consultation with our experts today, or read about our cancer treatment programme.
Frequently asked questions
Can homeopathy cure lung cancer?
No. Homeopathy has not been shown to cure or treat lung cancer and we do not claim that it does. We offer it only as supportive, complementary care alongside the surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy or immunotherapy planned by your oncologist.
Can lung cancer occur in non-smokers?
Yes. Air pollution, passive smoke, occupational dust and chemical exposure, radon and genetic factors can all cause lung cancer in people who have never smoked. Women and younger non-smokers are being diagnosed in increasing numbers in India.
What are the early symptoms of lung cancer?
A cough that lasts more than three weeks or changes in character, coughing up blood, breathlessness, chest pain, repeated chest infections, hoarseness, unexplained weight loss and tiredness. Early symptoms are often mistaken for tuberculosis or a chest infection, so ask for a chest scan if symptoms persist.
Can complementary care ease breathlessness and fatigue during treatment?
Our aim is to support comfort, energy and well-being through treatment, in addition to your oncology team’s medicines and breathing support. Research on homeopathy for these symptoms is limited, and results vary from person to person.
Is homeopathy safe with chemotherapy, radiation or immunotherapy?
Homeopathic medicines are highly diluted and are not known to interfere with these treatments, but you must tell your oncologist everything you are taking, and never delay or stop a prescribed treatment.
How do I book a consultation in Mumbai?
Call +91 8080 850 950 to book a 1:1 consultation at one of our Mumbai clinics or online. Please bring your scans, biopsy and molecular test reports and your treatment plan.
Learn more
- All cancer treatment guides for Mumbai
- Homeopathy Specialist for Cancer – our cancer treatment programme
- Treatment of Lung Cancer
- Best Lung Cancer Doctors in Mumbai
- What is Small Cell Lung Cancer?
- Lung Cancer Diagnosis on the Rise in Non-Smokers and Women
- Speciality Homeopathic Cancer Clinic
- 4 Step Cancer Treatment at Welling Homeopathy
- Exploring Best Cancer Treatment Options in Mumbai: A Comprehensive Guide
Disclaimer: this page is for information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Homeopathy is offered as complementary, supportive care only; it is not claimed to treat or cure cancer. Please follow your oncologist’s advice and do not stop or change any prescribed treatment without consulting them.
