Palliative Radiation for Lung Cancer Patients

Palliative care can be provided to cancer patients alongside their ongoing treatments, such as in the form of palliative radiation. This treatment aims to alleviate painful symptoms and improve overall well-being. Studies have shown that early integration of palliative care for patients with advanced lung cancer can significantly enhance their quality of life and mood, leading to significantly longer median survival rates for these patients. We have compiled some readings on radiation therapy, focusing on palliative radiation, to help you better understand this form of treatment.

Related: Palliative Care: Managing Lung Cancer Symptoms in the Final Stage

The main goal of palliative radiation is to shrink tumors that grow at awkward locations, causing pain and poor quality of life. Palliative radiation can help to

• Relieve pain in the bone and spinal cord – Almost 80% of advanced-stage lung cancer patients will develop painful bone metastases, especially in the spine area. External-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) can provide pain relief in most cases.
• Relieve obstruction of superior vena cava – radiation therapy (RT) is effective in shrinking most tumors that obstruct the superior vena cava (large vein bringing blood from the upper body back to the heart). The relief is usually apparent within 3 days from the RT.
• Stop bleeding - by shrinking or even eliminating the tumor, which may be the reason for bleeding. As the tumor size decreases, the blood vessels within or around the tumor can become less fragile and less prone to bleeding.
• Relieve obstruction of airways or food tube (esophagus)

Not all tumors are sensitive to radiation. The benefits of palliative radiation are often temporary. Many lung cancer patients (both small cell and non-small cell lung cancer) develop recurrent symptoms.

• Standard external-beam radiation therapy – Palliative radiation is usually given in one session daily for up to 10 days.
• Internal radiation therapy – see brachytherapy below.

Endobronchial brachytherapy is largely a palliative therapy for treating locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) involving the airway. However, the need for this technique has declined largely due to the expansion of other effective and less costly bronchoscopic ablative techniques such as:

• Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd: YAG) laser
• argon plasma coagulation
• electrocautery
• cryotherapy

Various techniques of radiation therapy are available for lung cancer palliative care. Talk to your doctor for personalized treatment options that are tailored to your specific needs and circumstances.

Related: Types of Radiation Therapy to Treat Lung Cancer and Emerging Technologies