Radiation Therapy

Both non-small cell and small cell lung cancer can be treated with radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy is used to treat lung cancer in several ways. It may be used after surgery, to destroy any remaining cancer cells and reduce the chances that the cancer will return. Radiation therapy may be used as the main treatment for people who are not healthy enough to have surgery.

If you have small cell lung cancer that is localized to the chest, your doctor will probably recommend a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

External radiation therapy
Radiation therapy typically is given five days a week for a period of six to eight weeks, using a machine that looks much like a regular X-ray machine. Each patient's treatment is individualized for him or her and the number of treatments is unique.

The procedure is not painful, and each treatment lasts only minutes. However, radiation to the chest can lead to esophagitis and other painful side affects. You will have radiation therapy at the Radiation Oncology department at University of Washington Medical Center.