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Radiation Therapy To Help Improve Breathing

Endobronchial brachytherapy is available at lung cancer treatment centers like Fox Chase Cancer Center for patients with any tumor in the airway interfering with their breathing. For some lung cancers that are located near the bronchial tubes (the passages that connect the lungs to the throat), the best lung cancer treatment is high dose radiation for a short amount of time.

Endobronchial brachytherapy is a procedure in which a catheter (a thin plastic tube) is placed in the area to be treated. The radiation source is then placed into the catheter to reach the tumor site. The catheter is removed once treatment is complete.

High-dose-rate (HDR) lung brachytherapy treatments can be used in the following situations:

• To help open an almost-blocked lung airway
• To help stop bleeding
• To retreat a previously irradiated lung cancer
• To use in addition to regular external beam irradiation to increase the radiation dose and chance of cure
• To use alone for the treatment of in-situ (very early) lung cancers

LIFE lung bronchoscopy enables doctors to find signs of very early lung cancers, and hopefully treat these cancers while there is still an excellent chance of cure. Photodynamic therapy uses a laser to help open up blocked lung airways and treat early tumors.

For more information about lung cancer treatment and prevention at Fox Chase Cancer Center or to make an appointment, call 215-214-3271