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Radiation therapy is often combined with chemotherapy to treat lung cancer. This is called chemoradiation. The 2 treatments are given during the same time period. You will not be offered chemoradiation if you aren't healthy enough to have this type of treatment. Radiation therapy is given for different reasons.
- Overview
- What is radiation therapy?
- Types
- What to expect
- Risks and side effects
- Effectiveness
- Support for lung cancer
- Frequently asked questions
- Summary
Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high energy rays to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. Doctors may recommend it as either a stand-alone treatment or in combination with surgery, chemotherapy, or both.
This article describes what radiation therapy is, the different types of radiation therapy, and what a person can expect from this treatment.
Cells are the basic units of living things. They grow and divide to form new cells and eventually become damaged and die.
Unlike normal cells, cancer cells grow and divide rapidly and uncontrollably. In the case of lung cancer, this process may result in a solid tumor in the lungs.
Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high energy particles, or rays, to damage and destroy cancer cells. It works by creating small tears in the DNA inside cancer cells, which prevents the cells from growing and dividing, and causes them to die.
Radiation therapy also has the same effect on other rapidly dividing noncancerous cells. However, most of these healthy cells eventually recover once a person has completed their therapy.
Radiation therapy is typically a local treatment, meaning it does not have systemic, or widespread, effects on the body. As such, it aims to damage mainly cancerous cells while sparing as many healthy cells as possible.
Doctors may recommend radiation therapy for the following:
There are different types of radiation therapy. The type a person receives depends on various factors, such as the:
•type of lung cancer the person has
•location and size of the tumor
•person’s overall health
Before radiation therapy
Before receiving radiation therapy, a person will meet with a radiation oncologist and radiation therapist to discuss their treatment. People receiving EBRT undergo a procedure called a simulation. During a simulation, the radiation oncologist and radiation therapist place small marks on the skin to define the treatment area for future radiation treatments. These marks may be temporary ink marks or permanent tattoos. They help guide the radiation beams toward the cancer. In some cases, radiation technicians may create a mold of the person’s body to help the person maintain the correct position during radiation therapy.
During radiation therapy
The exact procedure for radiation therapy depends on whether a person is receiving EBRT or brachytherapy.
After radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is an effective treatment for most lung cancers. However, sometimes lung cancers can come back after successful treatment. Once radiation therapy is complete, a person requires regular follow-up appointments to check for signs of cancer. In many cases, this type of aftercare will be lifelong. Some potential signs of lung cancer recurrence include: •coughing •difficulty breathing •recurring pain •new swellings or lumps The above symptoms are not always signs of a cancer recurrence. However, anyone who experiences any of these symptoms after radiation therapy or any other type of cancer treatment should contact their doctor immediately to make a follow-up appointment.
Early side effects
Early side effects resolve within a few weeks of completing treatment. Some common examples include: •Fatigue: Tiredness and fatigue from radiation therapy may not improve with rest. A person may require time off work or school while they recover. •Hair loss: People may experience hair loss at the site of the radiation treatment, but the hair should eventually grow back once the healthy cells have had a chance to recover from the damage. In the meantime, a person can continue to protect the area from the sun. •Skin changes: People may experience peeling or blistering of the skin at the site of the radiation treatment. The following steps can help avoid further irritating the skin as it heals: •not wearing tight or irritating clothing •using mild, fragrance-free cleansing products •washing only in lukewarm water •not scrubbing or rubbing the skin when washing or drying •keeping the area protected from the sun
Late side effects
Late side effects may not develop until months or years after completing radiation therapy. They can occur in any part of the body that receives radiation. People who receive higher doses of radiation have an increased risk of developing late side effects. People can discuss their individual risks with their oncologist before starting radiation therapy.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), radiation therapy can be an effective treatment for the two primary types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) and small cell lung cancers (SCLCs).
The ACS notes that NSCLCs are less aggressive than SCLCs and are also more common: Whereas NSCLCs account for around 80–85% of lung cancers, SCLCs comprise around 10–15% of lung cancers.
According to a 2022 review, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for early stage NSCLC successfully controlled the growth of the primary tumor in 85–95% of cases. In addition, between 55 and 91% of people who received SBRT for early stage NSCLC survived at least 3 years from the time of their initial diagnosis.
The effectiveness of radiation therapy for SCLC is less clear, although the ACS notes that this type of cancer tends to respond well to radiation therapy and chemotherapy. However, the ACS adds that SCLCs typically return at some point.
American Cancer Society 24/7 Cancer Helpline
The American Cancer Society 24/7 Cancer Helpline is a service that provides support for people living with cancer. It connects them with cancer information specialists. Contact: •Phone: 800-227-2345
American Lung Association
The American Lung Association support network offers the following for lung cancer survivors and people living with lung cancer: •a helpline •a mentoring program •an online support group •in-person support groups Contact: •Visit: online support group •Phone: 800-586-4872
LUNGevity
LUNGevity provides resources, support, and information for lung cancer survivors and people living with lung cancer. Contact: •Visit: resources •Phone: 844-360-5864
Does radiation work for lung cancer?
In many cases, radiation therapy is an effective treatment for lung cancer. A person may also require chemotherapy, surgery, or both as part of their overall treatment plan.
How many sessions of radiation are needed for lung cancer?
According to the ACS, external beam radiation therapy for NSCLC, the most common type of lung cancer, typically involves five sessions per week for 5–7 weeks. However, the intensity of radiation treatments and the number of sessions a person requires depends on several factors, including: •the type and intensity of radiation therapy the person is receiving •whether the person is receiving any other cancer treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy •the type of lung cancer the person has •whether the lung cancer has spread and if so, to what extent
Radiation therapy uses high energy rays to damage and destroy cancer cells. It is a common and oftentimes effective treatment for lung cancers. Doctors may use it instead of or in addition to other types of cancer treatment, such as surgery and chemotherapy.
There are two main types of radiation therapy for lung cancer: external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and brachytherapy.
EBRT involves beaming radiation from outside the body onto the tumor. Brachytherapy involves placing radioactive material inside the tumor.
Some people may experience early side effects of radiation therapy within the weeks or months following treatment. Others may develop late side effects in the years following their treatment.
Jan 28, 2022 · Local: 63%. Regional: 35%. Distant 7%. Small cell lung cancer is broken down into two primary stages—limited and extensive. Survival rates are also described based on whether the cancer is localized, has spread to nearby tissues, or is metastatic. The overall five-year survival rate of all stages combined is 7%.
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Sep 26, 2024 · Radiation is a type of lung cancer treatment designed to only target cancer cells and not affect other parts of the body. Lung cancer radiation therapy uses powerful, high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. Radiation may come from outside the body (external) or from radioactive materials placed directly inside the ...
Dec 22, 2023 · Radiation therapy, a common treatment for lung cancer, uses high-energy forms of X-rays to kill cancer cells or damage them so they stop growing. Lung cancer patients may be treated with one or a combination of radiation therapy technologies. For lung cancer, radiation therapy may be given in combination with other treatments, including ...
Mar 17, 2021 · Other recent advances in radiation therapy for lung cancer include stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Both deliver super-high-dose radiation to small targets in a very short period of time — usually four to 10 treatments within one to two weeks. “That makes them very effective at ...
Depending on the stage of the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other factors, radiation therapy might be used: As the main treatment (sometimes along with chemotherapy), especially if the lung tumor can’t be removed because of its size or location, if a person isn’t healthy enough for surgery, or if a person doesn’t want surgery ...
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