Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States. The two main types of lung cancer include: small cell and non-small cell lung cancer.
Small Cell Lung Cancer
Small cell lung cancer comprises approximately 15% of newly diagnosed lung cancers. It tends to be fast growing and often spreads to other areas of the body. In general, small cell lung cancer is treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common form of lung cancer accounting for approximately 85% of newly diagnosed cases. Subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer include: squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Surgery plays an important role in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer; however, most patients are not surgical candidates because advanced disease is common at the time of diagnosis. Thus, combined treatment with radiation therapy and chemotherapy plays an important role in the management of non-small cell lung cancer.
Treatment for Early Stage Lung Cancer
Patients are most familiar with radiation therapy delivered as external beam therapy in which a relatively small amount of radiation is precisely delivered to a cancer each day for several weeks. In contrast, stereotactic radiation therapy is a technique that delivers a high dose of radiation to a cancer, as well as some benign diseases, with extreme precision in only a few treatments. “Stereotactic” refers to the computerized 3-dimensional coordinate system used to locate a cancer within the body. Patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer may benefit from stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).
Please contact us so we can help determine if you are a candidate for SBRT.
A Cancer Treatment Service Second to None
Therapeutic Radiation Oncology offers state-of-the-art cancer treatment in metropolitan Atlanta. Our team of board-certified radiation oncologists are experienced in all aspects of lung cancer treatment. Therapeutic Radiation Oncology is dedicated to providing high-quality compassionate care with a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of lung cancer treatment according to national standards. Contact us today to find out how you can benefit from our specialized treatment programs
