Stereotactic Radiotherapy for stage 1 lung cancer

[SandraLlew]

Can anyone tell me what this is like? I have been told I will need 5 treatments over 10 days.

South Wales UK

[Elt79]

Hi - I had this in 2019 as part of my treatment for stage 4 NSLC. It was pain free for me and my only side effect was extreme tiredness for a few weeks but other than that it was fine. Good luck x

[SandraLlew in reply to Elt79]

Thanks for the reply, tiredness seems to be part of me, I have asthma, Sleep Apnea and did have Aortic Stenosis. I have pre planned and done all my physical work until December and all planning done until June next year, So I have little to actually do except get fit and run a 3k next June with one of my sons.

[Barbara65]

Hi I requested this instead of lung removal in 2015. It worked. You shouldn't feel any thing, although I did after about the sixth time. It's very tiring. I also now have neuropathy. They don't know if the treatment caused it, but they did warn me before I agreed to treatment.im .you will be fine . Best of luck

[SandraLlew in reply to Barbara65]

Thanks for this, I have been told I will need 5 treatments, luckily it is a small tumour (13 mm) and very near the surface of the lung.

Sorry to hear about the neuropathy.

Sandra

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hi SandraLlew

Sorry to hear you have lung cancer and how difficult this must be for you and your loved ones.

Having stereotactic radiotherapy is usually painless (almost like having a scan) and it starts with a planning session, where they may do additional scans to pin point with accuracy the area they will be targeting, from this they mark the skin, which is like a very small tattoo, almost like a pin head so they know where to target the radiotherapy with each treatment.

This link from Cancer Research UK explains the skin marking: cancerresearchuk.org/about-...

Your treatment starts after the planning session, usually within 2 weeks and the session itself may only last 5-10 minutes depending on the treatment area and radiotherapy scheduled dose. This is our booklet on radiotherapy which may answer some of your questions: roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...

The most common side effect is fatigue, this can happen shortly after you have completed your treatments or a few weeks after, it does pass and you need to rest when you do feel tired and not push through things.

There is also some good information from Cancer Research UK on Stereotactic radiotherapy: cancerresearchuk.org/about-....

You are welcome to contact our ask the nurse team if you would like to discuss anything, our freephone helpline number is 0800 358 7200 Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600, alternatively you can email us at [e-mail]

All the very best

Ask the nurse support team

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation

[SandraLlew in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Thank you, it seems like the best option for me, I have just had a TAVI to prepare for lung surgery and that has really put me off further surgery and in patient hospital stays.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hi SandraLlew

Sorry to hear of your experience of a TAVI, which has obviously had an impact on your treatment choice. I hope the radiotherapy goes well for you, both in experience and a good outcome.

We are here to support you in any way that we can and am sure you will find support and encouragement from others in the forum.

Kind regards

Ask the nurse support team

[SandraLlew in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

I was wavering before the TAVI and when weighing the pros and cons of the 2 procedures in regards to outcomes, procedural risk and side effects (short and long term) it's a no-brainer. I have a tiny tumour really near the surface of the lung, described by Oncologist as 'perfect size and location'. I need 5 treatments over a 10 day period, and while there will be recovery time, that will not be as bad as the minimum 7 day in patient stay plus months of recovery. I am running a 3k in the Race for Life next June.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

It is encouraging to hear that it is very small and radiotherapy can be an effective treatment.

It is very inspiring that you are running in the Race for Life and a great goal to work towards.

All the very best

Ask the nurse support team

[SandraLlew in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Thank you for your support, I am in contact with the C25K team and they will be guiding me through the training , which I will start probably in January to give my body a good chance to recover from the TAVI and radiotherapy.

[Silver14]

I had 8 treatments of this for stage 1, I had no side effects whatsoever, and it was successful, I've previously had a lobectomy for a separate cancer.Good luck with your treatment I hope you tolerate it as well as I did.

[SandraLlew]

Thanks for the reply, I'm glad you are well.