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

Is it painful

I can't think of anything other than it was an arduous and long day. I checked into the hospital at about 8 am and was discharged about 5 pm. The treatment itself is about 45 minutes or so. The preparation time is lengthy on day of procedure.

@revjohnson, your experience is helpful for people about to receive Y90 treatment. Thank you.

What do you wish you had known but didn't before starting treatment? In other words, was there something you might have been better prepared for?

Y90 has proven to be a very effective treatment for me against a primary tumor in my liver. I am experiencing necrosis (and shrinkage) of the tumor since having the treatment in November 2023. I recommend it highly if possible.

It has been a good effective treatment (Y90) for me since November 2023.

Not sure if my response is too late to assist you. But I had the Y90 procedure done in November 2023 for a primary tumor in my liver. The treatment process was arduous but the effects of the treatment have been good. Thank God I continue to have necrosis in the tumor that was treated. God bless.

Hi, I was in limbo about what treatment,Y90 or ablation after they found a tumor in my liver. The radiologist chose ablation. It was painful for a few days but subsided pretty quickly. I have been cancer free for almost 2 years now so I have been able to avoid transplant since my numbers are good. The radiologist was wonderful and explained everything. Best of luck to you.

Hello. Yes I had the procedure after they found a cancerous tumor in my liver. To me it was an easy procedure and it worked!
I had to have an MRI about 3 months later to see if it was gone and it was..that one never came back. But I did get another and they gave me an ablation.that also worked...good luck...I pray for all of us!

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.

@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?