Radioembolization vs Y90: Are they the same? Results?

Radioembolization is the Y90 procedure. First they have to map the liver entering through the femoral artery. That is done before they actually put the radioactive seeds in the tumor. A week or more later your seeds are placed inside the targeted tumor. You are semi sedated. No pain. Takes a couple of hours. Go home same day. I am sad to say Y90 did not work for me. I think the success rate is about 80% so with cancer that’s not bad odds. Good luck.

Covered by insurance? My next step is a biopsy. I was just about to schedule it until I found out the hospital doesn't take my insurance. It would be more convenient to go to the hospital 5 minutes away vs 15-40... However I'm more concerned about the insurance company taking the Y90.

Thanks

@stevie17, is right. Radioembolization is also known as Y-90, a minimally invasive treatment for liver cancer. From Mayo Clinic
"Radioembolization is a form of transarterial therapy in which small radioactive particles are administered directly into the blood vessels supplying the liver. There they accumulate inside tumors and emit radiation to suppress tumor growth. These radioactive particles contain yttrium-90, also referred to as Y-90, which radiates less than half an inch into adjacent tissue and limits the amount of liver exposed to radiation."

Read more here:
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Y-90 therapy offers many benefits in treatment of liver cancer https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-y-90-therapy-offers-many-benefits-in-treatment-of-liver-cancer/
- Targeted radiation therapy: Y-90 and liver cancer https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/targeted-radiation-therapy

@shorthairptr66, is radioembolization an option for you? Were you able to get insurance to cover the treatment?

👍

I had Y90 for some pretty substantial (6 plus CM) liver tumors. Recovery was difficult with overwhelming fatigue and low grade fever every night for 11 weeks. 3 month MRI showed 98-99% of the treated tumors were dead. My Dr couldn't have been more pleased. So, recovery of the Y90 may be somewhat long and uncomfortable, the results were worth it for me. Most people do not have that long for recovery.

I had Y90 in Nov, 24 on two tumors 6cm in size. A three month MRI showed 98-99% of the treated area was killed.. My Dr was very pleased. Recovery for me was quit difficult with pain, fevers and crippling fatigue for 2 plus months but the results were worth it. Sorry it didn't work for you Stevie 17th. I have to do it again for another very small tumor in a few weeks.

Dave that's great news. 2 months ago the size of my tumor was 8.2 x 7.7 x 6.7cm. Jan 16,2025 I had a biopsy and I'm still waiting for the results. During the biopsy I asked a few people about the Y90 and both nurses (1 there's 2 years and the other was there for 8 years) said they haven't seen that procedure done at that hospital.

I wonder if a tumor is a particular size will they not do the procedure.

Dave when you say "overwhelming fatigue" how bad was it? I hear the word fatigue all the time but nobody says how life was with this fatigue. I live alone (+55lb dog) so I wonder how this fatigue will keep me from doing regular activities.
Thanks

Fatigue that I experienced is hard to describe. It wasn't like "I need sleep" fatigue. It wasn't like I couldn't function fatigue. It was more like an overall body weakness where I was running on weak batteries. I would have a small burst of energy for a couple minutes and then the batteries got weak fast. My mailbox is about 100 feet from the house. I could get there fine but it was a struggle to get back into the house with two flights of stairs. I had to sit for a few minutes before doing anything else.

Now, please, do not think this happens to everyone. Y90 is generally tolerated well as I understand it. I went along for three weeks with the expected side effects and started to come out of it and had some complications. My tumors were pretty big and as the tissue died my body went into protection mode and created a layer of fluid around my liver as a cushion. This caused bloating, pressure and pain under my ribs. I started running a low grade fever each afternoon which just added to my other symptoms. Those fevers went on for 11 weeks. I am 14 weeks out from the Y90 and feel really pretty good. now.

I assume by your name you might have shorthairs? I am a lifelong lab person myself but at 73 have reduced myself to a little lap dog. Anyway, I wouldn't expect to do much dog walking right away. It was hard for me to take him out to do his business. Before the complications I was walking him over half a mile and increasing that slowly. After the swelling I was good for maybe 100 yards. Today I am back up to over a mile,

My radiologist said often the recovery is linked to the size of the tumors which seemed to hold true in my case. My last MRI showed 98% of the treated area killed so it's hard to argue with that kind of success.

I hope this helps. Please reach out of you have any more questions.

WOW you know what a German Shorthaired Pointer is 😂. Yes, that's what shorthairptr means. My family had one for the past 50+ years. My dog is not a GSP because I don't have a yard and we all know how those dogs need to run. My mixed is 55lbs and I walk him a few times a day. He's my concern. When I had the biopsy 2 weeks ago I paid a neighbor to take care of him. She will do it again if I asked.

As far as the fatigue thanks for the explanation. Everyone mentions fatigue but doesn't go into details. My last CT Scan has the tumor around 3½". Next week I see a Dr that will discuss the next steps and she also does Y90.

Many years ago I said if I ever got cancer there's certain things I will not do (full body chemo or radiation). Y90 seems like it only attacks the tumor while leaving the rest of the body / healthy cells alone. That sounds like a plan .

Living along my concern is dog and me getting around. I guess for a while I'll order food to be delivered.

Thanks.. helps a lot