Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States for both men and women, but early detection and advanced radiation therapy have dramatically improved outcomes. At Cancer Care of Western New York, our oncology team treats non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) using precision radiation delivered close to home.

Understanding Lung Cancer

Lung cancer starts when cells in the lungs or airways begin to grow and divide out of control. It causes more deaths each year than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined, which is why early screening and prompt treatment matter so much.

Key Causes and Risk Factors

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and is linked to 80 to 90% of all cases. Risk rises with the amount and duration of tobacco use, and quitting at any age lowers your risk. Other risk factors include:

• Secondhand smoke
• Radon gas exposure in the home, the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers
• Occupational exposure to asbestos or industrial chemicals
• Long-term exposure to air pollution
• Family history of lung cancer

Types of Lung Cancer

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

The most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 87% of cases. NSCLC tends to grow more slowly and includes several subtypes such as adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma.

Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)

Less common (about 13% of cases) but usually more aggressive, SCLC grows and spreads quickly and is strongly linked to smoking.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer

Early-stage lung cancer often has no symptoms, which is why screening is so important. As the disease progresses, patients may notice:

• A persistent cough that worsens or won’t go away
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Wheezing
• Coughing up blood
• Hoarseness
• Unexplained weight loss
• Persistent fatigue
• Recurring lung infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia

Screening and Early Detection

When lung cancer is caught before it spreads, five-year survival jumps from roughly 28% to about 61%. For high-risk patients such as current or former heavy smokers, physicians recommend an annual low-dose CT scan. Diagnostic workup can also include chest X-ray, CT, PET and MRI imaging and a biopsy to confirm the cancer type and stage.

Lung Cancer Treatment Options

Lung cancer is typically treated with a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. In early stages, surgery may be the primary option. In more advanced cases, radiation and chemotherapy are the mainstays of treatment. Radiation is generally delivered five days per week, Monday through Friday, for 3 to 9 weeks depending on the cancer type and stage.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)

SBRT, also called Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR), has revolutionized treatment for early-stage and inoperable lung cancer. It delivers highly concentrated, precise doses of radiation to the tumor over just 1 to 8 sessions rather than several weeks. Learn more about SBRT.

IMRT, IGRT and RapidArc

For more advanced lung cancers, our team uses IMRT, IGRT and RapidArc to target tumors precisely while sparing surrounding lung tissue. See our full list of radiation therapy technologies.

Side Effects of Radiation for Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer Treatment Across Western New York

Patients from Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Jamestown, Niagara Falls and the surrounding Western New York communities are treated at our three locations. Radiation therapy is coordinated close to home at our Cheektowaga center at Harlem Professional Park, our Jamestown location or our Niagara Professional Park center. View all locations.

Related Conditions We Treat

Explore treatment for head and neck cancer, breast cancer, GI cancer and other cancers, or view the full list of conditions we treat.