Patient Therapies

Many patients receive very high-dose radiation therapies that require specific precautions.  Below are brief summaries of these therapies.  For more detailed information, please refer to the Radiation Protection Handbook.

When a patient is involved in a high-dose radiation therapy, Radiation Safety will meet with the patient, family, and caregivers to discuss strategies to reduce radioactive contamination and non-patient exposures during the course of the therapy and recovery. 

Y-90 SirSpheres and Theraspheres

These interventional procedures involve injection of Y-90-bound microscopic glass or plastic spheres into the sites of hepatocellular carcinoma or liver metastases.  Radiation Safety is present in the procedure to survey for Y-90 contamination and prevent spread of any contamination outside of the procedure area.  Anything contaminated with radioactive Y-90 is collected for processing as radioactive waste.  Following the procedure, Radiation Safety provides a wristband and precautions to the patient.

I-131 MIBG

Pediatric or adult patients with Neuroblastoma, Pheochromocytoma or Paraganglioma may have therapy with high doses of I-131 MIBG (methyliodobutylguanidine).  There are significant radiation exposure and contamination risks throughout this therapy.  Trained staff from Radiation Safety meet and work with patients, family, and caregivers prior to commencement of therapy to discuss necessary precautions.  Patients are evaluated daily to modify exposure precautions and to ensure that contamination is contained.  MIBG Patients cannot be discharged until their radiation exposure rate decreases to acceptable levels.  Radiation Safety is on call 24/7 for these patients and to help staff with concerns as they arise.

I-131 Thyroid therapies

Patients with hyperthyroid or thyroid cancer may be treated with oral I-131 as inpatient or outpatient.  Radiation Safety staff meet patients before the therapy to determine whether the living conditions at home will allow outpatient therapy without undue risk to other people.  Therapy is conducted in the hospital if outpatient risks are too great.  Trained staff from Radiation Safety meet and work with patients, family, and caregivers prior before commencement of therapy to discuss necessary precautions.  Patients are evaluated daily to modify exposure precautions and to ensure that contamination is contained.  Thyroid therapy patients cannot be discharged until their radiation exposure rate decreases to acceptable levels.  Radiation Safety is on call 24/7 for these patients, and to help staff with concerns as they arise.

Lu-177 Lutathera and Betalutin

These therapies are performed outpatient over the course of several hours.  Radiation Safety surveys for contamination, monitors the radiation exposures throughout the therapy, and ensures that radiation exposure is low enough before releasing the patient.

Radioactive material in a surgical specimen or deceased patient

Contact Radiation Safety to assist when a deceased patient is radioactive, or if radioactive seeds are found during a specimen dissection or autopsy.