Y-90 liver cancer treatment

Thanks for your explanation! I don't know at the moment which treatment I'll be getting. I'm waiting to hear from the radiologist for an appointment. I imagine they are very busy and probably waiting for an approval from my insurance. I'll post again when I find out what the plan of action is.

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@nhsusanne, here's an explanation of Y-90 radioembolization from Mayo Clinic
"Radioembolization is a type of transarterial therapy that strategically attacks liver tumors with localized, high doses of radiation. The treatment often is called Y-90. This refers to the radioactive isotope yttrium-90 that is inserted into tiny glass beads and injected into the tumor's blood supply. The radioactive beads accumulate inside the tumors and emit radiation to suppress tumor growth. Over time, the tumor dies, but the healthy part of the liver remains unaffected.

Y-90 is a targeted way to deliver radiation to a tumor because it radiates less than half an inch into adjacent tissues. This limits the amount of the liver exposed to radiation, and spares normal liver tissue and other nearby organs from unnecessary exposure."
Read more here: https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/targeted-radiation-therapy

If you are having to travel for radiation using specialized equipment, you may be having proton beam therapy. Proton therapy has several advantages over traditional radiation therapy in treating liver cancer.

Do you know what type of treatment you will be receiving?

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I have been receiving Tecentriq + Avastin and now will be having radiation. I'll have to travel 20 miles for the treatments because that's where the special equipment is located. Does this sound like the y99 treatment?

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Hi Colleen...I was glad to hear that someone who has had y99 treatment had limited side effects. I will receive my y99 treatment next week for a 3.5cm unresectable HCC due to location and while I have evidence of Cirrhosis, all blood work is normal including AFP. No symptoms. Hoping that the y99 can shrink the tumor and future resection or transplantation will be possible. I am a otherwise very healthy 70 year old. Interested in hearing from others that have had y99 treatment and their progress toward a resolution or transplantation. Thanks

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Hi! I had a great experience with Y90. The mapping was a piece of cake, worked the next day and the shoot went great. No pain at all with the shoot, a little tired the next day but was back at work the following day.

I guess the most important question is did it work? Great response. I had two cancerous carcinomas on my liver. Months one and two they shrank then my radiologist reported after month three ct that the big one was dead and the image of the little one was kind of cloudy but he thought all that was left was the bed it was laying in and at least for now i had no viable disease. Will continue to scan every three months for now, next one April 26th. Will fill you in.

My tumor markers went from 60 something down to 8.1. I'm not really sure what the tumor marker numbers mean and have read they are not always to heavily relied of for the diagnosis or cure of cancer. Maybe someone would chime in on that. I would so highly recommend the Y90 to anyone. I heard someone else call it "The Mighty Y90." Diane

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Hello all - I had the mapping for the y90 treatment yesterday and felt it went great! I'm a little fatigued but at work today. I felt the news afterword was pretty encouraging too. Of three possible carcinomas only 2 were cancerous and the third benign. I guess they can only radiate two at a time so it saves me from a second procedure. Now were scheduled to shoot on July 21. I have Hep C that caused liver damage and can start that med protocol (Eclusa) as soon as we're sure the cancer is gone which I'm anxious to get the liver damage stopped. Would like to hear from you. Thanks, Diane

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