Chemotherapy is a common treatment used in treating thoracic (lung) cancer, either as standalone therapy or in combination with other treatments. Specific medications are used depending on the type of lung cancer, targeting and destroying rapidly multiplying cells.
If lung cancer treatment includes chemotherapy, patients may benefit by learning what to expect, both during treatment and afterwards. Chemotherapy may be prescribed alone or in combination with radiation therapy or proton beam therapy.
Immunotherapy involves specialised medicines that treat lung cancer by calling upon the body's own immune system. It may be administered alone or in combination with other treatments, which can vastly improve patient outcomes.
Whether diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small cell lung cancer (SCLC) or mesothelioma, Dr Hiley determines candidacy for thoracic cancer immunotherapy on a case-by-case basis.
Certain lung cancer cells have mutations called 'molecular targets' that cause them to grow out of control. Targeted therapy uses powerful drugs to remedy these genetic abnormalities, shrinking the cancer and halting further growth.
Since no two lung cancers are the same, targeted therapy has proven to be a revolutionary treatment, helping patients enjoy a longer life with better quality of living.
Proton beam therapy uses a different particle to conventional radiotherapy and delivers fewer fractions (typically 3, 5 or 8), with significantly reduced side effects compared to traditional X-ray based treatment.
It is effective for treating non-small cell lung cancer in early-stage patients and locally advanced lung cancers. Dr Hiley has more proton beam experience in lung cancer than anyone else in the UK.
Learn more about proton beam therapy →Radiotherapy uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells or shrink tumours by damaging their DNA. It may take days to weeks of treatment before the DNA is sufficiently damaged, and cancer cells continue to die weeks or months after treatment ends.
Re-irradiation describes repeat administration of radiotherapy to a region previously exposed to radiotherapy — for locoregional tumour recurrence or second primary cancers found after an initial course.
Re-irradiation requires comprehensive assessment by an expert oncologist. Dr Hiley is uniquely experienced in this technique, which can be highly effective for managing symptoms of cancer recurrence.
SABR is a highly targeted treatment where radiation beams from varying angles are used to deliver a high dose to the tumour while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue, typically in 3, 5 or 8 fractions.
Re-irradiation SABR has been used successfully to treat lung tumours in patients who have previously received radiotherapy for stage 1–4 non-small cell lung cancer.
SABR can also be delivered as a non-surgical treatment to patients not previously exposed to radiation, who have centrally located early-stage lung cancer — an effective alternative for patients ineligible for surgery.
SABR achieves a 3-year local control rate of around 90%, comparable to results from anatomic lobectomy.
Several fractionation schemes have been proven safe and effective for SABR, including the single fraction (SF) scheme. SF SABR is a highly cost-effective and convenient option for patients.
SF SABR has strong evidence and sufficient maturity to be reliably administered in patients with peripheral primary NSCLC in early stages.
MR-Linac combines a highly precise imaging system with a radiotherapy delivery unit, allowing real-time imaging with superior soft tissue definition compared to standard systems.
Real-time treatment adaptations allow functional imaging to be integrated directly into the radiotherapy pathway, providing more targeted treatments with fewer side effects.
VMAT is a form of external beam radiation therapy where a machine rotates around the patient, sending multiple energy beams of varying strengths to destroy the tumour in a targeted way.
VMAT sessions are much shorter than conventional radiotherapy, often lasting just 2–4 minutes.
IMRT uses powerful energy beams in controlled doses to destroy cancer cells. The beams can be carefully customised to match the exact shape of the cancer, reducing treatment toxicity even at higher doses.
IGRT uses medical imaging before each session to improve the accuracy of radiation delivery for tumours in areas that move or change, such as the lungs.
IGRT makes it possible to deliver higher doses of radiation where necessary, potentially shortening treatment schedules while maintaining precision.