Precise and Powerful: Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Lung Cancer
Joseph Herold fought hard to survive the Korean War and colon cancer. So when the 79-year-old learned he had lung cancer this year, he chose a new treatment that would give him a fighting chance to beat the disease with the fewest side effects:
stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) . “Luckily, the spot on my lung was very small. My thoracic surgeon said I had two options. I could have surgery that would remove half my lung. Or I could have SRS, which is not invasive,” Joe explains. Because Joe also has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a back fracture, he wanted to avoid lung surgery if possible.
“I looked up SRS on the computer and met with Dr. Pratt. I felt very comfortable because he explained things in a way I understood,” Joe says. Radiation oncologist
David Pratt, MD, recommended three 35-minute sessions of SRS, preceded by a one-hour treatment planning session, at Oncology Hematology Care’s centrally located
Blue Ash Office.
Despite its name, stereotactic radiosurgery is not surgery at all. “SRS uses eight to 12 beams of radiation from different angles, all focused on the tumor, to send precisely targeted radiation to the tumor to reduce and eventually eliminate it,” Dr. Pratt says.
Fewer Treatments Needed
Joe received the same amount of radiation in three SRS treatments that patients undergoing traditional radiation therapy would receive over six to seven weeks. “Because the patient is receiving a lot of radiation at one time, it’s crucial that the radiation beams be aimed as precisely as possible. SRS allows us to do that and, as a result, to minimize normal tissue’s exposure to radiation,” explains Dr. Pratt.
In addition to shorter, more precise treatments, SRS offers other benefits. “Its biological effect and ability to control tumor growth are radically different than traditional radiation therapy,” Dr. Pratt says. “With conventional radiation, there’s a 50 percent chance of killing the tumor. With SRS, for a patient like Joe, there’s a 90 percent chance that his lesion is cured.”
Fewer Side Effects
Treatment side effects are minimized, too, helping patients maintain their normal routines. The most common problems are sore shoulders from patients holding their arms over their head during treatment; flu-like symptoms; swelling or inflammation in the lungs (five percent for SRS vs. 20 to 25 percent for conventional radiation); and a small incidence of a rib fracture if the tumor is located adjacent to a rib.
Oncology Hematology Care is one of only a few practices or facilities in Greater Cincinnati to offer SRS for appropriate patients with lung cancer. The powerful Elekta Synergy S linear accelerator at our Blue Ash location enables us to provide state-of-the-art treatment to patients from throughout the region. Dr. Pratt has special interest and training in using SRS for tumors in the lungs and brain.
Good for Early-Stage Cancer
He notes that lung cancer is the second most common cancer in men and women. Each year, 180,000 new cases are diagnosed, with 20 percent detected in the early stages. Of that early stage group, five to 10 percent are not good candidates for surgery — but they could benefit from SRS. A patient with lung cancer may be an appropriate candidate for SRS if
· Only one or two nodules are present in the lungs
· Nodule size is less than 5 centimeters
· The nodule is not right next to a critical structure, such as the spinal cord or heart.
Joe is happy he chose SRS. “The hardest part was holding my arms over my head. I practiced at home and used a sports cream during treatment so I wouldn’t have pain,” he says. “The staff here is so helpful and caring about all my health issues. As an Army guy, I recognize good teamwork — and the teamwork here is excellent.”