Radiotherapy for lung cancer

The radiotherapy team plan your external beam radiotherapy before you start treatment.

Radiotherapy can be used to treat non small cell lung cancer. You have it in the hospital radiotherapy department.

Radiotherapy uses high energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells. It is sometimes given in combination with chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer.

Radiotherapy to the lung can cause side effects such as tiredness, sore skin and a cough. Some side effects can start some months or years later.

Doctors use radiotherapy to the brain in people with small cell lung cancer who has limited disease. This is also called prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI).

You might have radiotherapy to the brain if your lung cancer has spread there.