Choosing the Right Radiation for Lung Cancer
- There is no single “best” type of radiation for lung cancer. The right choice depends on where the cancer is and whether it has spread, says Dr. Keith Cengel of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
- The two main types are external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), delivered from outside the body, and brachytherapy, which places radioactive material in or near the tumor.
- Newer options like proton therapy may be more precise, but they aren’t always the best fit for early-stage lung cancer, where standard EBRT is often effective.
Several types of radiation can be used to shrink your tumor. The two main types are external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), which is similar to getting an X-ray, and brachytherapy, which involves inserting radioactive material in or near the tumor.
Read More In early-stage lung cancer, EBRT using X-rays are often effective. Some newer types of radiation, such as proton therapy, may be more precise and less likely to damage healthy tissue, but they may not be best suited for early-stage lung cancer.
Dr. Cengel says doctors have a whole toolkit to treat lung cancer, so they can choose treatments that maximize the chance of killing all the tumor cells while minimizing the risk of damaging healthy tissue and organs
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
