Radiation treatment of SCLC
Radiation therapy uses high energy radiation to treat cancer and to ease symptoms (palliation) caused by the cancer in the lungs or when it has spread to other parts of the body. In SCLC, external radiation is used, usually in combination with chemotherapy. There is evidence that in some circumstances, using chemotherapy and radiation together is more effective than either alone.
SCLC often spreads to the brain so after successful treatment, preventative radiation to the brain (prophylactic cranial irradiation or PCI) is usually recommended.