Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Radiotherapy uses radiation (eg, x-rays) either beamed from a machine (external radiation) or emitted by radioactive seeds implanted in your lung (internal radiation), to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours. Your doctor may recommend radiotherapy either alone, or in combination with surgery or chemotherapy. Non-small cell lung cancer is commonly treated with radiotherapy if the tumour is unable to be removed by surgery.

In lung cancer, radiation therapy is most often used in patients with early stage disease i.e. Stages I or II, or in patients who may not be well enough to undergo surgery. Radiation therapy may also be used in early disease, before or after surgery or in combination with chemotherapy in the later stages of the disease.

The side effects of radiotherapy may include nausea and vomiting, cough or shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, fatigue and nausea. Not everyone experiences all these side effects and your radiotherapist will advise you on what to expect and how to cope with the side effects.