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

Thank you for including me on your prayer list! TARE is trans-arterial radioembolization. They move the Y90 radiation through an artery in the leg to the location of the tumor....in my case, the liver. Minimal pain and discomfort with only local anesthesia ( at least in my case). I was awake throughout the procedure. Take care!

Leo, thank you so much for your reply! I hadn't even considered if his fatigue and loss of appetite may be depression related. He is not very good about sharing his feelings with me so I just thought it was the cancer/treatments.

I'm not sure what the Y90 TARE is... it was presented to us as Y90. He has an appt next week with the doctor that will do the procedure so I will ask if this is the same procedure or something different. Did you have much pain afterwards?

And finally, thank you for adding my husband to your prayer list! You will be in my prayers as well. Thank you.

--Jacqueline

Could you tell me what Y-90 is? I had a bowel cancer op in Nov 2022, liver cancer op in Aug 2024 and have now been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer but remain very fit - just completed a 300 mile bike ride over a week in France (albeit on an e-bike!). A scan at the end of August and a meeting with my oncologist will determine what happens next and so it will be useful to know about Y-90. I'm aged 80.5. Thanks for your advice.

I received the Y90 TARE treatment in Nov 24. Immediately afterward, I started a 2 yr drug trial with Durvalumab and Bevacizumab which are immunotherapy and tumor-starving drugs respectively. I do notice a lower energy level and I sleep for longer periods of time, but I am not certain which treatment caused this. I wish I could predict if the Y90 will add to your husband's fatigue, or if it will have no additional negative impact. I know that the Y90 gave me a significant mental boost. I know that many of us feel depressed at times which can bring on fatigue. But I wish you and your husband the best and have added you to my prayer list.

Leo

Did your husband have only 1 procedure? My husband is scheduled for the Y90 and they are doing it twice.

My husband is scheduled to have the Y90 next month. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2023 and had two lobes removed. Unfortunately, the cancer metastasized to the liver and he’s been receiving chemo and immuno therapy, but it isn't helping anymore, and the tumor has grown from 7 cm to 12 cm. So the next step is targeted therapy. He’s hardly eating (says he's not hungry) and so fatigued that he just sits on the sofa most of the day. Just walking to the bathroom or to the garage exhausts him and when he does, he’s weak and I’m afraid he’s going to fall. What concerns me is if the Y90 will make him even weaker and fatigued? Has anyone been in this situation and found the Y90 actually made them feel better than before?

--Jackie

My husband has Cholangiosarcoma and had the Y90 on the 17th of June. He has had so much pain since. He hasn't ate it's terrible to see him go through this. We are trying to get a hold of his Dr now because we think something may be wrong considering it's been 3 weeks

I had the Y90 procedure a year ago for single tumor 4 cm HCC. No pain or complications.

My AFP tumor marker went from 799 to 6 in a year and cancer or tumor is non detectable. I still show a lot of radiation but to date docs aren’t too concerned. Being monitored every three months with labs and imaging.

Currently at Mayo Clinic for liver transplant evaluation - praying it goes well.

I had an amazing IR doctor and had no pain following the procedure on Jan 31, 2025. I have had one CT in May which showed some necrosis & an MRI is scheduled for late July. My NET specialist said that 6 mos should show the full effect of the Y90. BTW, the mapping procedure was done prior to the Y90 as a test to be sure my tumor was receptive to the radiation beads.

I had liver cancer and had what you are calling y90 treatment. It took two treatments to stop the cancer, which also drove me higher on the transplant list (I had NAFL and Cirrhosis).
The treatment for me was painful after with compression at the injection spot

What is mapping you guys talk about? I just had CT scan and then the treatment.