Radiation therapy can be used to treat small lung tumors. It is also the principal treatment approach for inoperable and advanced lung cancers. In addition, radiation therapy can be used before surgery to shrink the tumor and after surgery to eliminate any cancer cells that remain. Athens Cancer Center, which is the first radiation oncology group in Athens, OH, offers today’s latest and most effective treatment methods for lung cancer. Our team of radiation oncologists at Athens Cancer Center are highly trained and skilled and have over 36 years of combined experience.
Effective, less hazardous treatment methods for lung cancer.
Radiation treatment for lung cancer depends on the type and size of the cancer, its location and the patient’s general health. Typically, several different treatments or combinations of treatments are used to fight lung cancer. Radiation treatment can be used in conjunction with chemotherapy. Besides attacking the lung tumor, radiation treatment can help relieve some of the symptoms cancer causes, such as shortness of breath caused by a tumor obstructing the airway, pain or bleeding.
At Athens Cancer Center, we offer two innovative methods of treating lung cancer: three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3-D CRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). 3-D CRT uses a three-dimensional image of the lung tumor to guide a high-dose radiation beam that automatically changes its shape and size to match the tumor. IMRT is an advanced form of 3-D CRT that uses digital images of the body to plan beam arrangements that will best target the lung tumor. Both 3-D CRT and IMRT allow us to deliver the dose where we need to and spare the adjacent normal tissues. Ultimately, this can increase treatment success and reduce side effects.
To learn more about Athens Cancer Center’s state-of-the-art treatment methods for lung cancer, please call (740) 566-4600 today.