Lung Cancer Radiation Therapy Treatment
Radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, may be a part of your lung cancer treatment plan. Let’s look at what this is and how it’s used.
What is Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer?
Radiation therapy is a treatment that uses carefully targeted, high-intensity beams of radiation to kill cancer cells or prevent them from growing. External beam radiation therapy may be used during the course of lung cancer treatment depending on where the cancer is located in the lung(s) or other areas of the body. If the cancer is in a few localized areas, radiation therapy is very effective. If cancer has spread into a larger area (such as throughout the entire lung), it’s more difficult to treat with radiation.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with lung cancer – small cell or non-small cell – you have options for where to receive radiation therapy. Find a location that’s close to you in the Providence, Rhode Island area.
Radiation Therapy by Type of Lung Cancer
The medical oncologist and radiation oncologist will determine what’s best for each patient during the treatment planning phase. Several types of external beam radiation could be used to treat lung cancer, depending on where the cancer is located.
Treating Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with External Beam Radiation
Patients who meet one of the following criteria are often good candidates for external beam radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer treatment:
A tumor that can’t be removed because of its size or location.
If a patient’s health doesn’t allow them to undergo surgery.
Before surgery, to shrink the tumor, which makes it easier to remove.
After surgery to kill any small areas of lung cancer that might not have been taken out.
External Radiation Therapy for Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer
Patients with small cell lung cancer have radiation therapy used in a different way than non-small cell lung cancer patients. Patients with this type of lung cancer may receive radiation for one of these conditions:
To treat the tumor and lymph nodes in the chest. If chemotherapy has begun and radiation is given over that same period of time, this is called concurrent chemoradiation. Not all patients can tolerate this.
To treat extensive cases of lung cancer or limited stage lung cancer who couldn’t tolerate chemoradiation. Radiation therapy can be given after the chemotherapy phase of treatment is complete.
To help lower the chances of cancer spreading to the brain, prophylactic (preventative) cranial irradiation may be given.
Types of External Beam Radiation Therapy That May be Used for Lung Cancer Patients
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) is an advanced type of radiation technology most often used to treat early-stage lung cancers when surgery isn’t an option. Rather than administering a small dose of radiation each day for several weeks, SBRT uses very focused beams of high-dose radiation, which are given in fewer treatments. Several beams are aimed at the tumor from different angles. A specially-designed body frame is used to help reduce the movement of the lung tumor during breathing so it can be precisely targeted.
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
This type of external beam radiation, called Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), allows precise targeting of tumor cells. Computer-generated images are used to deliver high doses of radiation to the tumor while avoiding surrounding tissue. This therapy uses beams at multiple angles to shape the radiation dose to the tumor. The higher dose delivered directly to the tumor increases the success rate of the treatment, while the lower dose to surrounding tissue results in fewer side effects.
Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
Prior to each radiation treatment, imaging is used to take a computer-generated photo of the tumor to guide the radiation beam during treatment. This helps improve the accuracy of targeting the tumor while avoiding healthy lung tissue.
Your radiation oncologist will review your specific needs and determine which technologies would be best for you.
Radiation Therapy for Palliative Care
Radiation therapy plays a significant role in improving the quality of life in patients whose treatments are intended to keep the patient comfortable. This is called palliative radiation. Palliative radiation is meant to shrink or slow down a tumor’s growth and to reduce the side effects caused by cancer, such as pain and bleeding. This method of treatment is much shorter (fewer doses) than radiation that is meant to completely eliminate the cancerous cells.
Patients who receive this type of radiation therapy are aware of the goals before they start treatments. Your radiation oncologist will review this with you.
Possible Side Effects of External Lung Cancer Radiation
Before undergoing radiation therapy, talk with your radiation oncologist about what to expect, including the possible short-term and long-term side effects. Side effects will depend on factors such as the treatment area, total dose of radiation, type of radiation therapy used, and whether chemotherapy is given at the same time (chemoradiation).
Common side effects of radiation therapy for lung cancer can include:
Feeling tired
Hair loss specific to the area receiving the radiation
Red, dry, or peeling skin at the radiation site
Trouble swallowing
Cough
Nausea and vomiting
Shortness of breath
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Although most side effects go away on their own, some may last a long time or become permanent. Talk to your radiation oncologist right away if you notice any side effects so steps can be taken to reduce or relieve them.
Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer in Providence
You have a choice where you receive radiation therapy. Since you will visit the radiation therapy clinic often, make sure it’s not only a radiation oncologist you trust but also a convenient location. If you live in the Providence area and are seeking radiation therapy for lung cancer treatment, click the button below to request an appointment.
