Y-90 liver cancer treatment: What's your experience?

I had resection in June. Attempted Ablation in September but it turned out tumor had grown since MRI and was to close to bile duct for surgeon to ablate. Did Y90 in November awaiting MRI in January to see if it worked. They saw some small tumors in another area so went on immunotherapy 3 weeks ago. Will MRI that section tomorrow. What’s next….who knows. Investigating Histotripsy for further treatment. Just can’t catch a break I guess. On the other hand I have no pain going about my daily life so I am blessed in many ways.

@colleenyoung I learn so much every time I read your responses. My recent mapping procedure for Y90 was denied by Medicare. The letter I received said your doctors have enough information to treat your NET liver tumor. It is being appealed, but will delay much needed treatment while the tumor continues to grow.

I am shocked that Medicare denied the Mapping request. They have to map to know what route to take when placing the Y90. My practice told me because I had Medicare (regular) no approval was needed and had mapping done 1 week after I met with IR. And week after had seeds implanted. So sorry for the delays. I am with you. How much will it grow by the time they get to
Place the Y90.

@stevie17 You hit the nail on the head. That is my concern, also. The letter Medicare sent me said they had 60 days to reconsider after an appeal is received. My local oncologist has been doing CT scans about every 3 months. My last one was late October and it had grown from 6.4cm to 7.7cm. If that rate of growth continues, will that affect future treatment possibilities?

Has anyone been told before Y90 surgery that it usually has to be done again on the same tumor? Just got a call from my IR office asking when I want to have my second surgery! I told the woman I knew nothing about having another Y90 when we don’t even know what the first one has done, it’s only been 4 weeks since it was done. Very suspicious of this doctor. Notified my oncologist and surgeon for the opinion.

The treatment went well but the side effects, extreme fatigue, abdominal pain, and shoulder pain, low grade fevers continue after 8 weeks. Has anyone experienced symptoms that long?

@dave1952, @paulapc3 asks about fatigue in this related discussion:
- Y-90 treatment: What helps with fatigue? Is it normal https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/y-90-treatment/

Dave, how are you doing a couple of week later?

It is ten weeks since my treatment and there have been a couple complications. I continue with the shoulder pain, fatigue and the low grade fever each afternoon. I started having some significant pain and fullness in the area where the treatment was done. My Dr ordered a CT and a couple days later another MRI.

I was told I have significant fluid retention around the liver causing the pressure and pain and swelling but everything else looks good so far. I should find out more about the MRI today. Dr said the swelling and fluid will dissipate but could not give me a time frame and said he had never seen this much fluid before but did not seem overly concerned. I can deal with it with Tylenol but was surprised by the length of the recovery. One day at a time. Thanks for asking.

I had Y90 in November 24. The results were very good. I had some complications that were pretty tough for almost three months but my situation was unusual according to my Drs.

Has anyone had any issues with EXTREMELY dry, scaling itchy skin after the procedure? I could scratch myself until I bleed it is so bad. I use lots of high moisturizing lotion but that only helps for a short time. Some of the areas are actually painful. Any suggestions?

try some aloe vera gel. You can get it in most health food stores. Don't buy the stuff that they put dye in - the actual gel is just clear