Lung Cancer

Lung and Thoracic Cancer

Thoracic cancers occur in the chest, and lung cancer is the most common type. There are two main types— non-small cell and small cell. About 10–15 percent of lung cancers are small cell, which grow and spread faster. When surgery isn’t an option, chemotherapy plus radiation is often used, and radiation can also help relieve symptoms like pain.

Why proton therapy?

Protons can deliver higher doses of radiation with less risk to healthy tissue and organs than traditional X-ray beams. Because proton beams stop at the tumor and conform to its shape, there is virtually no exit dose, which is especially important given the lungs’ proximity to critical structures.

Lung cancer facts

Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in the United States—fewer than 25 percent of patients survive beyond five years. It’s often diagnosed at later stages when symptoms appear.

Tobacco use causes 80–90 percent of lung cancers, making prevention critical.

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