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

I had Y90 treatment 2 weeks ago. The mapping procedure was quite painful for a week, with extensive bruising and a swollen lump. But they put me under general anesthesia for the radioembolization and I had absolutely no pain post-procedure. Waiting for the 1st MRI on October 2nd to see what effect, if any, it had

I went through the whole transplant workup this summer (egads, what a process!) only to be told that I was not eligible due to numerous comorbidities. I know they are thinking about chemotherapy/immunotherapy as a next step. I just don’t know if I want to go through all that. My understanding is that it is not necessarily effective long term I also have non-alcoholic cirrhosis, and the treatment wouldn’t touch that. The caner has grown from 1cm to 3cm in 4 months. Still only one tumor, but also have portal hypertension, varices, blood redirected to smaller veins in stomach, and slight swelling of the spleen.

I’m trying to figure out my next steps, if any, once I receive the Y90 results.

It’s all so confusing, trying to balance living my life to the fullest and whether or not to continue treatment. I don’t want to appear to give up, but I also don’t want to waste time being ill from treatment.

What’s your story?

My husband had his mapping last week and is scheduled for the Y90 on Sept 3. He also has 3 tumors, 2 small ones and one large one in the front. They are doing 3 chemo's (one each week) prior to the procedure. From what I understand, this will continue afterwards as well until they do the second Y90 procedure. Are you doing chemo before the procedure?

I have HCC which are 3 small tumors in the back side of my liver. I just went through my mapping last Friday 8/22/25. Haven't spoke to doctor yet but have appointment to get the Y90 bead treatment this coming Friday 8/29. Mapping area insertion area was right groin. Area is bruised black & blue this morning. Hope it's alright. This whole ordeal started from a physical my dentist wanted me to do before some implant work. My blood test showed higher AST,ALT level than normal. Ultra sound was next and then MRI and then Biopsy. Saw mass on left adrenal gland. Biopsy matched liver biopsy. Had that mass removed in July and now going after primary cancer being the small tumors in the liver. Wish me luck.
Todd

Hi Collee,

Yes, I did send a message to Dr. Alzubaidi's team. I also went to see Dr Joyti Patel with the same symptoms. I recently was tested for Valley Fever, which was negative. The shortness of breath / coughing, rash, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, bloating and lack of appetite and more severe pain around shoulder and back started July 23 and that is why I went to ER July 28th.
The rash is not as bad as of this last week. No more on my neck and chest... just below my navel is still sensitive. I put an Aloe / Lidocaine salve on when it drives me nuts.
If I lay low, stay relaxed the shoulder pain is not as bad. Often not at all.
My meals have to be small and bland. Like a cup and half max is good. I have lost at least 15lbs. Not complaining.
I was told to lay off Tylenol. So coffee is the go to for the headaches.
I only can wonder that my extensive history with Fibromyalgia could possible making the Y-90 symptoms more extreme.
So far the films show the tumor is not slowing down. So, for me, using the Mayo website, Google and the Mayo Connect have shown me that there are so many variables. Sadly for me, I didn't turn out to be the easy one. Thinking hard about if I can go another round in September. Trying to stay strong and positive. It's hard.
So,
Be well, have adventures for me, hug all of those you love and care for.
Sincerely,
Raina
I appreciate your concern and following up with me.

@myo4me, these sound like challenging side effects to manage. I'm not a doctor, but reading this article, you seem to be experiencing some rare side effects of Y-90 treatment:
- Side Effects of Yttrium-90 Radioembolization https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4114299/

I wonder if the skin issues are the effects of radiation dermatitis. Y90 is known to cause GI issues from mild to serious. Not everyone experiences these side effects.

Have you contacted your cancer team to let them know about the ER admission and the challenging effects you're experiencing?

To the best of my knowledge, most of this is from the Y-90 intravenous beads. Before they were put in I had some bloating and fatigue. All the rest came afterward. I truly thought the first couple weeks would be the worst. Wrong.

Are your symptoms from the tumor?

I started Y-90 treatment July 2,2025 for a tumor on my liver. My symptoms go from tolerable to extreme. Headaches, chills, rash over my chest neck and stomach, bloating, nausea, pain radiating up to my right shoulder, pain down the right side of my back, shortness of breath including taking a breath with shooting pains on the right side up to my chest, easily fatigued and really only to have abouy a cup of food during a meal. Unable to lie flat, or turn on my side. Sleep is almost impossible. I did go to the ER in August and testing showed growth since the first MRI in July. I have used pain meds three times for extreme pain. I have a followup in September plus another MRI. I do not see how I can continue this with another dose for an unknown result. I have asked many questions, yet never getting a response as to are my symptoms normal.

Thanks. That's very helpful.

TARE is trans-arterial radioembolization. It is a procedure that delivers targeted radiation, Y90 in my case, to the tumor via an artery. I am not sure what types of cancer it is used for.