At Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, we offer the most advanced radiation treatments for lung cancer in a warm community setting. Because we have the full range of radiation technologies, you receive treatment tailored not only to your diagnosis, but to those personal factors that make you unique.
How Does Radiation Therapy Treat Lung Cancer?
High-energy radiation kills lung cancer cells. Radiation oncologists use external beam radiation therapy—which treats cancer inside the body from the outside—to accomplish this.
A machine delivers external beam radiation therapy during a series of daily outpatient treatments. Using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) techniques, our doctors can conform the radiation to the specific size and shape of the tumor.
Treatments are painless and like getting an X-ray. Radiation therapy may be used on its own or along with surgery and systemic therapy (such as chemotherapy) for lung cancer.
Radiation for Lung Cancer: The Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Advantage
Our program is accredited by the American College of Radiology and the American Society for Radiation Oncology. These accreditations reflect the comprehensive services and high level of quality and safety we provide. An independent radiation oncologist also reviews cases weekly to ensure each patient’s care continues to meet our high standards.
You can also expect:
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Expertise: Our radiation oncologists are highly trained in radiation therapies that treat lung cancer. They regularly work with lung cancer specialists in Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center in Philadelphia to discuss and design the most effective radiation treatment plans. This expertise, coupled with our advanced radiation technologies, helps reduce treatment side effects and improve outcomes.
- Fast appointments: Our goal is to see new patients within three days of an appointment request, but we’re often able to see them sooner.
- Convenient treatments: We make every effort to work around your schedule and transportation needs for radiation appointments. And you don’t have to travel far. We administer radiation at the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute in Lancaster. Patients can get proton therapy there as well in our brand new proton therapy center. Proton therapy is a highly precise form of radiation that is usually only available at major academic centers.
- Warm, comfortable setting: From the greeter at the door to your doctors and nurses, a personal connection is at the core of every interaction we have with you. Here, you’re not a number, but someone who matters. And we work hard every day to live up to that expectation.
- Customized care: Some radiation therapies are better for certain people. At Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, we have all the tools needed to treat lung cancer. This allows us to select the best possible treatment for each individual.
- Treatment for side effects: In our Symptom Management Clinic, we offer same-day appointments Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You’re cared for by providers who specialize in symptom management. Treatments include IV anti-nausea medications, hydration and antibiotics. Our symptom management team stands ready to provide fast relief and make your radiation experience as positive as possible.
How We Approach Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer
Our doctors work with other lung cancer specialists, including medical oncologists, to create comprehensive treatment plans. As a team, they personalize your treatment by considering many factors—including the size and location of the cancer, your overall health, prior treatment history and lifestyle goals.
Before you start radiation, you come in for radiation treatment planning. During this process:
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You have a CT scan so we can get the tumor’s exact measurements.
- Your radiation oncology team then uses special technology to design the radiation plan. These plans are also reviewed and approved by Abramson Cancer Center radiation oncologists with special expertise in lung cancer.
- Your radiation oncologist works closely with other lung cancer specialists to seamlessly coordinate other needed care, such as chemotherapy.
Our radiation technology rivals technology and equipment found at larger academic medical centers around the U.S. and includes:
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for Lung Cancer
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) delivers a high dose of radiation to tumors with extreme precision. You may benefit from SBRT if you have early-stage lung cancer and can’t undergo lung cancer surgery.
At Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, we use CyberKnife®, the world’s first and only robotic radiosurgery system to deliver SBRT. Learn more about CyberKnife at the LG Health Hub. Benefits of CyberKnife include its ability to:
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Treat hard-to-reach tumors
- Precisely deliver radiation beams while making real-time adjustments that account for slight movements you make while breathing
- Minimize damage to healthy tissues around the tumor
IMRT for Lung Cancer
IMRT delivers precise doses of radiation to lung cancer tumors. Using 3D CT scans and computerized dose calculations, doctors can ensure the radiation closely matches the 3D shape of the tumor.
Benefits of IMRT include its ability to:
- Deliver higher, more effective radiation doses
- Reduce treatment side effects
You may benefit from IMRT if you have locally advanced lung cancer (lung cancer that has started to spread beyond the lungs into the area surrounding them) because it can treat larger areas than SBRT.
Proton Therapy for Lung Cancer
Some people diagnosed with locally advanced lung cancer may benefit from proton therapy instead of IMRT. Proton therapy uses protons (positively charged atoms) to damage and destroy cancer cells.
Benefits of proton therapy include its ability to:
- Precisely target the tumor tissue being treated
- Minimize damage to healthy tissue and surrounding organs
- Treat recurrent cancers (cancers that come back)
Because proton therapy is still so new, it’s important to receive treatment from doctors who are trained in this advanced tool. At Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, our radiation oncologists received their proton therapy training at Penn Medicine, a world leader in proton therapy treatment. They are experienced in the use of proton therapy to treat lung cancer and can help you decide if it’s right for you.