Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Yttrium-90 has a half-life of approximately 2.5 days; therefore most of the radiation (over 97%) is delivered to the tumor in the first two weeks following treatment.
The microspheres remain lodged in the blood vessels of the liver. They are not expelled or absorbed by the body.
Normally, you can be discharged four-six hours after the procedure. Most patients can resume their normal daily activities two to three days after the treatment.
Hair loss (alopecia) has never been reported following treatment with SIR-Spheres® Y-90 resin microspheres. Hair loss may be caused by chemotherapy, but SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres will not make this worse.
SIRT must not be performed if you are pregnant. You also must not become pregnant within two months of receiving treatment, as this may harm the unborn baby.
Effective contraception must be used at all times during this period.
You must not breastfeed during the first two weeks after treatment and must not use any milk expressed during this period for bottle feeding of your baby.
No. You can and should continue to eat and drink as normal. Adequate levels of food and, in particular, fluids will help your return to normal daily activities. Your doctor is the best person to advise you regarding alcohol consumption.
Before SIRT can be offered to you as a treatment option, there are a number of other factors that have to be considered by your doctor. Most importantly, you need to have a sufficiently healthy liver that is working satisfactorily. This is usually determined by a simple blood test.
The procedure is performed at a hospital or clinic by highly trained physicians called interventional radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians. It can be on an outpatient basis or might require a couple of days of hospitalization, depending on the local regulations.
It is important that you contact your doctor or nurse if you experience a side effect. Your doctor might prescribe medications to ease any discomfort.
The insurance coverage is country dependent. You can send a query using our contact form to get more information regarding insurance in your region.