← Return to 4 treatment options from my doctor, which one should I start with?

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@sandy23

Well that is more foreboding. We haven't received written instructions. It appears it's less time than we were told. However, she did say 6 to 8 hours with a variance. So I'm guessing it's their TIME she's referring to.

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Replies to "Well that is more foreboding. We haven't received written instructions. It appears it's less time than..."

Hi jlu & sandy: I completed PRRT therapy (lutathera) a little over a year ago at Mayo, Arizona so can respond with what to expect from that perspective. It is a long (about 5-6 hours total) day, but in my case not painful or difficult. The procedure starts with 2 IV's (one in each arm) and a lot of fluids. You get an anti-nausea med intravenously first (and they continue to check in with you that you have no nausea--I did not have any). Once that is done, they begin the Peptide solution (amino acids)--in my case I think that went on for a couple of hours prior to the lutathera infusion. That infusion generally took about 45 minutes and they are very cautious during that phase. Once that is done, you have about another 2 hours of the peptide solution--they are flushing a lot of fluid thru you to help protect the kidneys, etc. Once all the fluids are done, they measure the amount of radiation you are giving off and once that is low enough (it always was for me at the end of the fluids infusion) they remove the IV's and you are done. The total process never was longer than 6 hours and I think it was closer to 5 a couple of times. There was a nurse assigned to me the whole time I was there and the radiation therapists were with you during the Lutathera infusion and visited before and after. You have your own bathroom and you definitely need to pee with all that fluid! They always brought me snacks and water/drinks after the Lutathera which was nice. You can nap or read during the day and the staff chat with you too. I was really tired after my first treatment, less so with each one after that--and I think that varies for each patient. But I would plan on lots of napping after your first one, just in case. They will give you distancing protocols for the first 3 days after treatment but encouraged me to walk, etc. and I did when not napping! I also found that I was more comfortable eating certain foods rather than others the first couple of days, but I did not have any nausea--just wasn't very hungry. Everything got easier with each treatment--so stay patient and positive. It was worth it for me and I would do it again. Good luck both!