My sister who is in her early 60's was found to have a small cancer on her left lung, the cancer was removed and the Doctor reported that "he got it all". Then they booked her to have 20 Radiation teatments "just to be sure".

My question is was the radiation treatment "normal" or another example of "unnecesary treatment" for billing purposes. She is a MEDICARE/MEDICAID patient?

-ungcancer is tricky. She should have radiation, and some chemo to boot!

-Radiation is fairly commonly prescribed after resection of a stage 2 tumour. Unfortunately, the fcat that radiation is being considered means he doesn't think "he got it all", and in any case, radiation may reduce the likelihood of local recurrence, but it certainly doesn't "make sure" of anything

-Yep. If it's worth trying for resection, it's also worth hitting it hard with chemo and radiation at the same time in many kinds of cancer. NOT everybody with lung cancer dies-- some fraction of locally advanced patients are cured. The problem is telling who they are going to be. My biggest recommendation is get into a larger study at a larger institution, rather than getting your postop rads at Joe Blow's Local radiotherapy Rx, MRI, and Garden&Lawncare Service.