Radiation therapy is a method of treating lung cancer in its early stages. While surgery may still be used, radiation is becoming an increasingly prominent treatment that’s both noninvasive and effective. As part of a multidisciplinary team, our radiation oncologists use deep expertise in radiation therapy and innovative clinical trials to elevate the standard of care for patients with lung cancer.

Our Lung Cancer Treatments

Our radiation oncologists use the following radiation therapies to treat lung cancer:

• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) – IMRT delivers targeted radiation doses to the tumor site, patterned to match the shape of the tumor through modulating the intensity of the radiation beams..
• Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) – Used to treat lung cancer in its early stages, this radiation technology delivers very high doses of focused radiation to a small area. By using very sophisticated technology, the radiation oncologist can increase the intensity of the radiation while compressing the amount of radiation into only three to five sessions. With higher dose rates, SBRT is much more convenient for patients and offers improved success rates. 
• Brachytherapy – In rare cases, doctors may use this therapy to treat lung cancer. Radioactive implants are placed as close to the cancer as possible. 
• Proton Therapy – Proton therapy is a form of targeted radiation treatment that uses energy from positively charged particles called protons. Protons very precisely zero in on tumors, delivering most of their cancer-fighting energy directly to cancer cells while minimizing radiation exposure and damage to neighboring healthy tissue and organs. The therapy reduces the risk of late effects after treatment.

Learn more about lung cancer clinical trials at The Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center.