“What is radiation treatment for lung cancer?”

In the treatment of lung cancer, several types of treatments might be used either together or separately. These treatments include surgery (to cut out the tumor or lymph nodes), chemotherapy (medication used to kill cancer cells) or radiation therapy (beams of particles similar to an X-ray that kill cancer cells). Radiation therapy uses a beam of energy to disrupt cancer cells and kill cancer cells. Since it only works where the beam is directed, it is good to locally control a cancer (in one area). For lung cancer, this might mean radiation to the area where the lung mass is or large lymph nodes are - to get rid of tumor completely or reduce its size if it is causing symptoms - like blocking air passages or causing bone
pain, or causing bloody cough.