Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer: Understanding the Effectiveness

Radiation therapy kills cancer cells with the help of high-energy X-Rays or particle beams. There is more precision involved in treatment, so it effectively tackles complicated tumors in the lungs.

Depending on cancer progression, radiation therapy is performed alone, after surgery, or coupled with other treatments like chemotherapy. Treatment centers like Targeting Cancer offer advanced radiation therapy techniques, so patients show immediate improvements.

Radiation Therapy for NSCLC

In conditions like Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, the cancer is less aggressive than Small Cell Lung Cancer and can be treated with radiation therapy.

There are various ways and combinations in which radiation therapy is used on a patient to improve his/her condition. Here are a few ways:

  • Radiation therapy is implemented alone if the NSCLC is in the earlier stages. The tumor is at a manageable size and is removable through focused beams.
  • Patients who are not in a stable medical condition to go through surgery also can benefit from this therapy. If cancer has spread too far to perform surgery, the doctors will turn to radiation treatment.
  • Sometimes the radiation treatment is used before surgery to shrink the size of the tumor for easier removal. A larger tumor can lead to certain complications and also require more caution from the surgeon’s side.
  • Radiation therapy can act as a highly targeted post-surgery treatment for parts of the tumor unreachable through surgery. It makes sure that the body eradicates all cancer cells.
  • Radiation therapy also relieves the patient of painful symptoms such as cough, bleeding, or swallowing difficulties.
  • Chemotherapy is provided to the patient with radiation therapy to improve the outcome and help eliminate the tumor faster.

Radiation therapy is used for SCLC as a precaution so that cancer does not spread to the brain. It is known as prophylactic cranial irradiation. It is also used to palliate the symptoms that come with lung cancer.

Types of Radiation Therapy

There are mainly two types of techniques used in radiation therapy:

External Beam Radiation Therapy

External beam radiation therapy uses radiation from an external source to destroy the cancer cells. It is commonly provided to patients with NSCLC in their affected areas (can include spread to the brain and other organs).

Therapy lasts for a few minutes and is painless. Patients go through radiation for around five days a week. The typical duration for radiation treatment is a month to 7 weeks, depending on the patient’s response to the therapy.

Brachytherapy (internal)

In Brachytherapy, the doctor places radioactive material on the affected region or the airway next to it. The radiation is emitted into the cells and causes them to die. This radiation technique does not harm the tissue near the tumor.

Brachytherapy offers more precision and allows doctors to control the intensity and extent of radiation. It eliminates the possibility of harmful side effects that come with low-precision techniques.

Effectiveness of Radiation Therapy

The healthcare professional will offer you various treatment combinations based on how much the cancer cells have spread.

Radiation therapy is very effective against Small Cell Lung Cancer despite the aggressive nature, considering that it is in the limited stage. When it reaches the extensive stage, patients can only use radiation therapy to alleviate the symptoms and extend survival duration while getting chemotherapy simultaneously.

When it comes to Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, for the early stages and the later ones where surgery is not feasible, radiation therapy is an effective treatment. Doctors can provide high-precision treatment without affecting any nearby tissue.

Potential Side Effects of Radiation Therapy

  • Cough
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Sore throat
  • Difficulty in swallowing
  • Skin reactions

Visit a center like Targeting Cancer to understand the entire procedure and learn about its effectiveness and risks based on your condition.