[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2023\/07\/stereotactic-body-radiation-therapy\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2023\/07\/stereotactic-body-radiation-therapy\/","headline":"SBRT: Advanced Nonsurgical Treatment for Lung Cancer","name":"SBRT: Advanced Nonsurgical Treatment for Lung Cancer","description":"Stereotactic body radiation therapy is a breakthrough treatment for people with lung cancer who are not candidates for surgery.","datePublished":"2023-07-18","dateModified":"2024-07-12","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/GettyImages-1177010289.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/GettyImages-1177010289.jpg","height":1365,"width":2048},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2023\/07\/stereotactic-body-radiation-therapy\/","about":["Cancer Care","Health Topics A-Z","Lung Cancer"],"wordCount":637,"articleBody":"Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. It accounts for one in five cancer-related deaths.\u00a0Early detection\u00a0and treatment can help save lives.According to\u00a0Ryan Levy, MD,\u00a0stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a breakthrough treatment for lung cancer. It\u2019s used for people who are not candidates for surgery.\u201cNot every patient will be a candidate for lung surgery,\u201d explains Dr. Levy, a thoracic surgeon at\u00a0UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC Passavant. \u201cBut we still want to have great cure rates and offer an optimal treatment plan for those whose lung function won\u2019t permit an operation.\u201dDr. Levy is also chief of Thoracic and Foregut Surgery at UPMC and chief of Thoracic Surgery at UPMC Passavant.SBRT can also treat small, early-stage pancreatic cancer or cancers that have spread to the liver, adrenal gland, or spine.Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy: How It WorksSBRT precisely targets cancerous or benign tumors in a person\u2019s lungs. It uses a focused radiation beam that causes minimal damage to the normal lung tissue. The main goal of treatment is to prevent tumors from growing.\u201cImagine a bicycle wheel,\u201d explains Heath Skinner, MD, PhD, chair and medical director, Department of Radiation Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.\u201cIn the center of the wheel you have the hub \u2014 where the energy beam is focused. Around the hub are many spokes. The spokes are a lower dose of radiation which serves to minimize radiation going to areas where it\u2019s not needed.\u201dThe treatment consists of three to five sessions. Sessions occur over 10 to 15 days. It has a complication rate of less than 5%.Tumors that are not cancerous, also known as benign tumors, can shrink for up to two years after the procedures. It takes only a few months for cancerous tumors to shrink after the sessions.Dr. Levy and his radiation oncology colleagues Kiran Mehta, MD, and Hima Bindu Musunuru, MD, continue the SBRT program, which began several years ago at UPMC Passavant. These doctors have since successfully treated more than 250 people with SBRT.Benefits of Stereotactic Body Radiation TherapySBRT gives experts greater access to tumors in hard-to-reach areas of the body. But this treatment also provides benefits to the person getting treatment, including:Fewer treatments (less than five).Less risk. Since the treatment is noninvasive, most people have fewer side effects.Less radiation damage to healthy tissue and organs.No anesthesia or incisions.SBRT Side EffectsSBRT presents some side effects that are typically short-term. They may include:Nausea or vomiting.Skin changes, like becoming irritated or dry.Long-term side effects are rare but can still happen months or even years after treatment. They may include:Secondary cancer.Changes in the lungs or spinal cord.Changes in your bladder or bowel.Swollen arms and legs, also known as lymphedema.Weakened bones.Lung Cancer Fast FactsLung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men (after prostate cancer) and\u00a0women\u00a0(after breast cancer). Lung cancer is more deadly than colon, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancer combined.The American Cancer Society estimates there will be about 234,580 new lung cancer cases this year. About 116,310 in men and 118,270 in women. About 125,070 people will die from lung cancer in 2024 (65,790 in men and 59,280 in women).Most people diagnosed with lung cancer are older, aged 65 or above. Lung cancer rarely affects those younger than 45.The key to surviving lung cancer is early detection before the cancer progresses in stages. For those who are eligible, UPMC offers\u00a0low-dose CT scans to screen for early-stage lung cancers.Learn more about world-class care at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on July 18, 2023, and was last reviewed on July 12, 2024.SourcesLung Cancer Statistics | How Common is Lung Cancer?Stereotactic body radiotherapy - Type - Mayo Clinic"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2023","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2023\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"07","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2023\/\/07\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"SBRT: Advanced Nonsurgical Treatment for Lung Cancer","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2023\/07\/stereotactic-body-radiation-therapy\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]