TheraSphere Radiation Treatment for Liver/ Bile Duct Cancer

Hi Lily,
I’m reporting back on my brother’s situation and our plans with radio embolization. As you may realize, every CC patient is different.

My brother with intrahepatic CC was planned to receive Y90, another similar radioembolization treatment. (33yo, relatively healthy, has multiple ~20 liver and 2 lymphonode mets, so other options are not currently possible)

Originally the plan was to receive Y90 after chemo stabilized the cancer and verified it is not spreading. But after consulting two second opinion reviews of his case, we are considering Y90 for use as a later treatment option, when his body stops having positive response from chemo. Both of the second opinion reviews suggested a similar opinion, that at this point in his treatment (only 2 months after diagnosis and 2.5 rounds of chemo) the risks from radio embolization may not be worth the gains, as compared to the current chemo treatment. One major risk as noted with radio embolization is that it may damage “good” portions of his liver as it treats the tumor sites in his liver. If he loses liver functions, he cannot receive systematic chemo treatments again until his liver recovers. During the recovery time, the tumor may spread again.
Both my brother and his primary oncologist were very bullish on the Y90, but are both reconsidering at this time, because of the second opinions (from UCSF & Stanford). My brother actually went as far as going thru the Y90 consultation appointment.

Again, this is his case, and the conditions for every CC patient is different. It actually shows the significance of second opinion reviews.

Paul

Lily…yes, several of our members had been successfully treated with Therasphere or any of the other radiation treatments available. Hopefully, someone will come forward and share their thoughts with you. In the mean time you may want to read up on previous threads by using the “google” function on our site. (Top, right, enter: Therasphere.) Your Mom fits the criteria and I am looking forward to hearing good news.
Good luck and please, keep us posted.
All my best wishes,
Marion