Radiotherapy in the treatment of lung cancer: when and how it is used

Radiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of lung cancer. The decision to use it is not made in isolation, but within a multidisciplinary oncology board, which assesses the tumour type, disease stage, and the patient's general condition before determining the appropriate course of treatment.

Depending on these factors, radiotherapy may be used as a primary treatment or combined with chemotherapy and other oncological therapies. There are also specific situations in metastatic disease where radiotherapy is used not necessarily with curative intent, but to manage certain symptoms or specific lesions.

Another highlighted aspect is the technological advancement of this type of treatment. Modern radiotherapy techniques make it possible to deliver the radiation dose directly to the tumour, with better protection of the surrounding healthy tissue. The treatment plan is not standardised but individualised: the dose, the area to be irradiated, and the number of sessions are determined separately for each patient, according to the specifics of their case.

Information on the role of radiotherapy in lung cancer was presented by Dr. Matei Bâră, specialist physician in radiotherapy and Head of the Radiotherapy Department at the SANADOR Oncology Centre.