Goal of Radiation Treatment for Lung Cancer

Radiation treatment is also called radiotherapy. It’s one way to treat lung cancer. One goal of radiation is to kill cancer cells while affecting as few normal cells as possible. Another goal is to use radiation as a way to ease symptoms that are caused from tumors, such as shortness of breath.

There are a few ways to use radiation to treat lung cancer.

• You may be treated only with radiation.

• You may have radiation before surgery. The goal is to help shrink a tumor, so that it is easier to remove. Prior to surgery, it’s called neoadjuvant radiation.

• You may have radiation after surgery. The goal is to help ensure that all cancer cells are removed or killed. After surgery, it’s called adjuvant radiation.

• You may have radiation in addition to having chemotherapy. You may have it before, during, or after chemotherapy.