Palliative radiotherapy in lung cancer

Elżbieta Senkus-Konefka; Jacek Jassem

Vol 3, No 3 (2004): Polish Palliative Medicine

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Published online: 2004-04-27

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Palliative radiotherapy in lung cancer

Elżbieta Senkus-Konefka, Jacek Jassem

Advances in Palliative Medicine 2004;3(3):203-212.

Vol 3, No 3 (2004): Polish Palliative Medicine

Artykuły poglądowe

Published online: 2004-04-27

Abstract

The main objective in the treatment of patients with advanced lung cancer is the control of symptoms related to the tumour: pain, cough, haemoptysis, dyspnoea and superior vena cava syndrome. Palliative radiotherapy is an effective and well tolerated treatment modality, resulting in improvement of chest symptoms in most patients. This treatment is most effective for palliation of haemoptysis and chest pain, whereas controlling cough and dyspnoea is less successful. In view of the limited expected survival, a short course of 1–2 large radiotherapy fractions is recommended for most patients. In selected patients who are in relatively good condition, larger irradiation doses and longer treatment schedules may be considered in the hope of achieving some survival improvement. This paper reviews existing knowledge of the efficiency and tolerability of palliative chest radiotherapy.