Thoracic cancers

Thoracic cancers include lung cancers, lung carcinoid tumors, thymic malignancies, and tracheal tumors.

There are two main types of lung cancer:

• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. There are three main subtypes of NSCLC.
  • Squamous cell carcinoma starts in early versions of the cells that line the lung’s airways and frequently is linked to a history of smoking.
  • Adenocarcinoma starts in early versions of cells that normally secrete mucus or other substances. This cancer occurs most often in smokers but sometimes also occurs in non-smokers.
  • Large cell (undifferentiated) carcinoma can appear in any region of the lung and can grow and spread rapidly.
• Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is less common than NSCLC. It is most often seen in smokers and tends to spread widely through the body.

UCSF Radiation Oncology is part of the UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network; an alliance of 26 of the world’s leading cancer centers. We offer a full range of treatments for lung cancers and other thoracic cancers, individually customized for each patient, including:

• Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) including CyberKnife
• Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) including Tomotherapy
• Lung Motion Management including 4DCT
• Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) including 3D and 4D conebeam CT (CBCT)
• Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT)
• Intraoperative Radiotherapy (IORT)