What are side effects of Radioembolization?

What are side effects of Radioembolization?

Many people experience symptoms of fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, fever, and loss of appetite after radioembolization. These effects are usually mild or moderate, and most people leave the hospital within a day or two after the procedure. Radioembolization has a low rate of serious side effects.

Why is yttrium-90 used?

Yttrium-90 is a radioactive substance. It is used in radiation therapy (radiotherapy) to treat cancer. Why do I need this treatment? Your doctors have found a tumor (or tumors) in your liver.

How long does it take for Y90 to work?

Patients generally resume normal activities within one or two weeks. Y90 treatment can be used in combination with traditional treatments for cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.

What are the side effects of Y90 treatment?

The most common side effect after Y-90 radiotherapy is fatigue (feeling very tired). This can be mild or severe. It can last up to a few weeks. Other side effects include: • Poor appetite • Mild abdominal pain • Slight fever • Nausea These symptoms should slowly go away over 1 to 2 weeks.

How effective is the Y-90 treatment?

Radioembolization is a treatment, not a cure. Approximately 70 to 95 percent of the patients will see improvement in the liver and, depending on the type of liver cancer, it may improve survival rates.

How much does Radioembolization cost?

The costs of radioembolization vary between $31,000 and $48,000, depending on unilobar or bilobar treatment procedures.

How many Y90 treatments can you have?

Patients are typically limited to two treatments, although doctors can take another approach — only with concentrated chemotherapy and larger particles — once radiation limits are reached.

How long do Y90 side effects last?

These side effects usually subside within three to five days and may be alleviated with medication. You should tell your doctor if these symptoms last more than seven to 10 days. You may also experience a low grade fever, lethargy and fatigue that usually last about one week.

Are you radioactive after Y90 treatment?

The Y90 has a half-life of 64.2 hours. This means that it will be non-radioactive in about a month’s time.

How many times can you get Y90?

Patients are typically limited to two treatments, although doctors can take another approach — only with concentrated chemotherapy and larger particles — once radiation limits are reached. “He could potentially have that multiple times to prolong his survival and keep him doing well,” Dr. McBride says.

What happens after y90?

You may feel more tired than usual and tire more easily for up to 3 weeks after the procedure. You may feel sick to your stomach and not feel like eating for several days. You will be given a prescription for medicine to control the nausea. You may lose some weight before you feel like eating again.

How is Y 90 used to treat cancer?

Tiny glass or resin beads filled with the radioactive isotope yttrium Y-90 are placed inside the blood vessels that feed a tumor. This blocks the supply of blood to the cancer cells and delivers a high dose of radiation to the tumor while sparing normal tissue.

What is the physical half life of Y-90?

•TheraSphere consists of yttrium-90 (Y-90) as an integral constituent of insoluble glass microspheres. •Mean sphere diameter 20-30 μm •Y-90 –Pure beta emitter –Decays to stable zirconium-90 –Physical half life of 64.2 hours (2.68 days) –Average energy of beta emissions is 0.94 MeV –Average range of 2.5mm in tissue, with max range < 1cm

How did radioactive yttrium 90 get its name?

RADIOACTIVE YTTRIUM 90. A review of its properties, biological behavior, and clinical uses. LEONARD A. WALKER. Yttrium, element 39 in the periodic chart, stands between strontium and. zirconium, and just above the rare earths. The element is named after Ytterby, a village in Sweden.

How long does yttrium-90 stay in the liver?

The radiation from yttrium-90 continually decreases over a two-week period and disappears after 30 days. The tiny microspheres remain in the liver without causing any problems.