Clinical Services - Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays to kill or shrink cancer cells. This radiation can come from the outside of the body (external radiation), or from radioactive material placed inside the body (brachytherapy).

Radiation can sometimes be the main treatment for lung cancer. More often, it is used as simultaneous treatment with chemotherapy and also after surgery, to help maximize their effectiveness.

Radiation is not only used in the lung for treatment of lung cancer, but is also used in the brain either "prophylactically" to help prevent the spread (metastasis) of the cancer to the brain, or for treatment of cancer that has already spread to the brain.

Radiation can also cause some side effects, such as skin problems, nausea and vomiting, and fatigue.

Radiation is given by a doctor called a radiation oncologist who is specially trained in treating cancer with it.