There is no “best type” of radiation for lung cancer, says Dr. Keith Cengel, Associate Professor Of Radiation Oncology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The decision is based on where the cancer is and whether it has spread, as well as several other factors.
There are several types of radiation that can be used to shrink your tumor. The two main types are external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), which is similar to getting an xray, and brachytherapy, which involves inserting radioactive materials directly into the tumor.
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In early stage lung cancer, EBRT or 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 kit of tools to treat lung cancer, and can therefore make treatment choices to maximize the chance of killing all the tumor cells and minimize the risk of damaging healthy tissue and organs.
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