Radiotherapy

Disclaimer: The following information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for medical advice and treatment.

Radiotherapy for lung cancer uses powerful, high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells or prevent them from growing. The radiation can come from outside the body (external) or from radioactive materials placed directly inside the lung cancer tumor (internal/implant). External radiation is most commonly used. The radiation is targeted at the lung cancer tumor or lymph nodes (if cancerous lymph nodes are present), killing the cancer cells only in that specific area of the lungs.

Radiation can be used before lung cancer surgery to shrink the tumor or after the surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells in the lungs. Radiation can also be combined with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy makes the cancer cells more susceptible to radiation. There are various types of radiotherapy available. The type of radiotherapy you receive depends on your condition and is determined by your doctor and the entire team based on your personal medical history and the current available scientific knowledge.

Radiotherapy has a local effect, meaning the treatment only affects the specific area where you are irradiated. The side effects are generally temporary. Since the radiation continues to work for some time after the end of the treatment, side effects may only completely disappear after several weeks to months.

Some side effects that may occur include:

Fatigue
Pain when swallowing
Irritation and itching of the skin
Alopecia / hair loss (in the case of brain metastases)

Some people experience a significant impact from side effects, while others may have fewer issues. Everyone reacts differently to a specific treatment, and each therapy is unique.

More information can be found on: cancer.gov/types/lung