Doctors often overtreat with radiation in late-stage lung cancer

Almost half of patients with advanced lung cancer receive more than the recommended number of radiation treatments to reduce their pain, according to a new study. Radiation therapy that is palliative, or not intended to cure, can reduce the pain from lung tumors and improve quality of life. But unnecessary treatments add to costs and require needless trips to the hospital -- and can lead to radiation toxicity and difficulty in swallowing.

from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1N2JmKT