Navigating Lung Cancer Navigating Lung Cancer | Page 23

Radiation Therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or other forms of
radiation to kill cancer cells. It can be delivered in several different ways. In most
cases, the patient lies on a special treatment table. A machine delivers invisible
radioactive beams through the skin to the cancer.
Radiation can harm healthy tissue. The radiation oncology team will carefully measure
and mark the spot to get radiation. During treatment, the beams will be aimed at that
precise spot. Each treatment takes only a few minutes.
Radiation therapy for lung cancer is usually given several days each week for several
weeks. The schedule is planned specifically for each patient. It depends on the type,
size, and location of the cancer. Your health-care team will create a radiation therapy
plan that:
•
•
•
eliminates as much cancer as possible
minimizes side effects
limits of radiation exposure to normal tissues outside the cancer
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). SBRT radiation therapy focuses
and intensifies each dose of radiation. It causes less damage to the healthy tissue
near the tumor. Throughout the treatment, the strength and direction of the radiation
are constantly adjusted. This targets any changes in the tumor (such as it getting
smaller) and spares healthy tissue. SBRT delivers several doses, usually three to five
treatments (one per day).
21