What should you know about SRS and SBRT?

Stereotactic radiosurgery, or SRS, is a precise radiation approach often used for a small target in the brain or another defined area. Stereotactic body radiotherapy, or SBRT, applies a similar planning principle to selected areas outside the brain, including some lung tumours. Treatment is delivered in a small number of sessions, with imaging and computer planning used to shape the beams. A linear accelerator may deliver the radiation. The suitability of either approach depends on the tumour's size, position, movement, nearby organs, previous treatment and overall health.

Your team may review scans, biopsy findings and previous treatment before recommending stereotactic treatment. Ask whether the aim is to control a known tumour, relieve a symptom or support another treatment. Discuss how the target will be located, whether you need a mask or body support, how breathing movement will be managed, and how many visits are expected. Possible effects vary with the treated body area; fatigue, skin changes or irritation of nearby organs may occur. Surgery, including lung lobectomy for some lung tumours, may be another option.

Follow the instructions given for your treated area. Contact the team promptly for worsening pain, repeated vomiting, new weakness, confusion, severe breathlessness or difficulty swallowing. Seek urgent help for sudden loss of movement, a seizure, severe chest pain or trouble breathing. These symptoms need assessment because they can have causes unrelated to radiation as well as treatment-related causes.

Which treatment is being considered, and what is its goal? How will you protect nearby organs? What short-term changes should I report? How will scans show whether the treatment is working? What other options, such as surgery or standard radiotherapy, fit my situation?