Y-90 Treatment For Liver Cancer

Radioembolization (Y-90) is a minimally invasive treatment that combines embolisation and Radiation Therapy for Liver Cancer in India. During Y-90 Treatment in India, tiny glass or resin beads containing the radioactive isotope yttrium Y-90 are released via a short catheter inside blood vessels that feed the liver tumor(s). When the beads become deeply embedded in the tumor vessels, they reduce blood supply to the tumors while simultaneously providing a high dosage of radiation to the tumor while sparing healthy tissue.

The average Cost of Y-90 Procedure in India starts from USD 9,300 . These costs are determined by a number of factors, including:

• Hospital type and location
• Type, stage, and spread of liver cancer
• Patient’s overall condition
• Oncologist, radiologist, and surgeon experience
• Duration of stay in the hospital.
• The cost of further imaging tests such as CT scans

Many people suffering from primary and metastatic HCC, cholangiocarcinoma, and other secondary tumors travel to other countries in search of appropriate treatment at a reasonable cost. While countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe have set a standard for liver cancer treatment, treatment in these countries may be beyond reach for many. Countries such as India can provide an excellent option, providing the same level of care for a fraction of the cost of other countries.

As a patient with Liver Cancer Traveling to India, you can always trust our experienced radiologists in India to make you as comfortable as possible throughout your stay. We, Medsurge India team, will always be available to answer your questions, address your concerns, and assist you through the procedure at every step of the method. While we are proud to offer our radiology expertise, skills, and technology, we are primarily concerned with giving compassionate care to our patients.

Get to Know About Liver Cancer

The most common risk factor for the development of liver cancer is Chronic Liver Disease, and patients frequently have both conditions at the time of diagnosis. This creates a therapeutic dilemma because the tumor and underlying liver failure damage patients’ health and may limit their ability to qualify for curative therapy.

The gold standard of therapy for patients with localized disease and preserved liver function is surgical excision of the tumor. However, some patients may have insufficient liver remaining following the operation. This sets patients at imminent risk of liver failure. Liver transplantation in India has the multiple advantages of addressing both the tumor and the underlying condition of the liver by replacing the damaged organ with a healthy donor graft. However, transplant is only available to people with a few small tumors who fulfill criteria of transplantation.

Thermal ablation, which is the controlled elimination of tumors by using probes that heat or cool tumors, is another standard Treatment for Early Liver Cancer in India. This therapy’s success may be restricted to smaller lesions in favorable places inside the liver.

Patients who are not surgical or ablation candidates are frequently offered transarterial therapy, in which therapies are supplied directly to the tumor from its blood supply, and systemic therapy, which is medicine that treats the entire body. Radioembolization is a type of transarterial therapy in which small radioactive particles are directly injected into the blood arteries that nourish the liver. They aggregate within tumors and emit radiation to inhibit tumor growth. These radioactive particles include yttrium-90, also known as Y-90, which radiates less than half an inch into surrounding tissue, limiting the amount of liver exposed to radiation.

What is Y-90 Radioembolization

Radioembolization is a Therapy in India used to treat advanced-stage liver cancer that started in the liver or spread to the liver from another part of the body (metastatic). While this form of therapy is not a cure, it can help extend and enhance the lives of people who are not candidates for other forms of treatment. This approach not only slows tumor progression but also relieves some of the symptoms associated with liver cancer.

Y-90 Radioembolization in India combines radiation therapy and embolisation, a minimally invasive treatment meant to prevent cancerous cells from receiving blood. During the treatment, small glass or resin beads packed with the radioactive isotope yttrium 90 (Y-90) are introduced into blood arteries via a catheter, delivering radiation to the tumor, cutting off the blood supply to cancer cells, and sparing healthy tissue.

Radioembolization has lesser negative impacts than conventional radiation therapy. It is done as an outpatient procedure and is a minimally invasive procedure. No incisions or stitches are required because the microspheres are injected by a small puncture in the skin. The Y-90 Radioembolization Therapy in India can give patients with inoperable tumors,  the best chance of living a healthier and longer life. On rare occasions, this medication can be utilized to shrink a tumor such that it can be removed surgically. It can also be used in combination with chemotherapy to maximize cancer cell elimination.

How Patient is Prepared for the Procedure

• You will have a physical consultation with the interventional radiologist who will perform your procedure a few days before the procedure.
• Your doctor may test your blood before your procedure to examine your kidney function and see if clots form in the blood normally.
• Seven to ten days before your treatment, you will also have an angiography, which will create images of the blood vessels feeding the tumor.
• You will need to plan to go back home after your surgery because your interaction with children and adults may be restricted for three to seven days.
• Inform your doctor about all medications and herbal supplements you use. Describe any allergies, particularly to local anesthetic, general anesthesia, or contrast materials. 
• Before your procedure, your doctor may advise you to discontinue the use of aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), or blood thinners.
• Inform your doctor about any recent diseases or other medical conditions.
• If a woman is pregnant, she must always inform her doctor and a gynecologist. Doctors will not do many tests during pregnancy to prevent exposing the fetus to radiation. If an x-ray is essential, the doctor will take precautions to limit the baby’s radiation exposure. 
• You will be given specific guidance on how to prepare, including any adjustments to your regular medication routine that are required.
• You will be given a sedative before the surgery. Specific instructions on what to eat and drink prior to the treatment will be given, and you will need to have a relative or friend join you and transport you home.

How does the Technique Work

The interventional radiologist inserts a catheter through the skin into a blood artery and advances it to the treatment location using x-ray imaging and a contrast substance to see the blood vessels. The radiation-filled microspheres, or glass beads, are then put into the catheter and advanced to the blood arteries supplying the tumor with blood.

When the microspheres get embedded at the tumor location, they give a strong dose of radiation straight to the cancer cells. The microspheres will block the passage of blood to the tumor, depriving the diseased cells of the oxygen and nutrients they require to grow.

What does the Equipment Look Like

• The process employs X-ray equipment, a catheter, and microspheres, or microscopic glass beads containing radioactive yttrium-90.
• X-ray guidance is often used during Radioembolization Treatment in India.
• In this evaluation, a radiographic table, one or two x-ray tubes, and a video monitor are often used. The process of transforming x-rays into video images is known as fluoroscopy. Doctors use it to monitor and guide procedures. An x-ray machine and a detector suspended above the exam table produce the footage.
• A catheter is a thin, long plastic tube the size of a “pencil lead.” It measures about 1/8 inch in diameter.
• Millions of glass beads, each smaller than a human hair and equal to about half a teaspoon full, deliver ionizing radiation.
• Other equipment, such as an intravenous line (IV), an ultrasound machine, and sensors that monitor your heart rate and blood pressure, may be used during this process.

What You Can Expect Following the Y-90 Treatment in India

Patients will rest in a separate room of the treatment center for 2 to 6 hours after the surgery is completed. Patients must maintain their leg (the site of the catheter placement) motionless throughout this period to reduce the risk of bleeding. Patients’ medical teams will ensure that they can walk, eat, drink and use the restroom appropriately before they leave the treatment center. They will also ensure that the patient’s pain and nausea are under control, that their vital signs are stable, and that they have a responsible adult driving them home.

Following a recovery period, patients may have a CT scan or MRI every three months to check the tumor’s imaging response to treatment. The Best Interventional Radiologist in India can additionally recommend follow-up appointments, which may include physical examinations and blood tests. It is extremely important to inform your doctor about any clinical changes or potential adverse effects during these follow-up appointments.

Y-90 Treatment Success Rate

The Y-90 Treatment Success Rate in India is determined by a number of factors, including:

• The stage of cancer in the liver
• The tumor’s dimensions
• The progression of liver cancer
• The patient’s overall condition

As a result, the TARE treatment is highly personalized, as are the results. A team of qualified and skilled medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and surgeons work together in liver cancer hospitals in India to follow the most advanced protocols for effective recovery and results for each patient. 

Liver Cancer Hospitals  in India, which are equipped with advanced medical technologies, cutting-edge medical equipment, and modern infrastructure, provide a variety of time-bound and cost-effective radiation therapies. These enable patients to receive quick treatment and avoid potentially fatal consequences. Furthermore, these hospitals have received significant accreditations from national and international authorities such as JCI, ISO, NABH, and others. 

Oncologists and Radiologists in India are well-known for their outstanding skills and knowledge. Best Doctors in India have years of experience and are actively involved in research to develop new and novel treatment options for liver cancer. Another advantage of traveling to India is that there will be no waiting lists. Unlike in other nations such as the United States or the United Kingdom, a patient in India can receive timely treatment as long as they have sufficient finances. 

Know More – Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE)