What to Expect

If Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) is identified as a therapeutic option for you, the evaluation and treatment process will generally proceed along the steps described below.

Screening

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Your medical oncologist or primary care physician will need to refer you to a hospital that has been credentialed to administer SIR-Spheres microspheres. Prior to the initial consult, it is helpful to have lab work, recent scans, medical notes and insurance information sent to the hospital.

During your consultation with the SIR-Spheres microspheres credentialed user, generally an interventional radiologist, he or she will explain the SIRT procedure and screening process, and discuss your suitability as a candidate for the procedure. If the initial assessment indicates you might be a suitable candidate, the hospital will schedule a series of diagnostic tests to confirm your eligibility.

The testing will generally include lab tests to assess liver function, and diagnostic imaging - such as scans and arteriograms - to ensure there is acceptable vasculature (arrangement of blood vessels) in the liver. To ensure that the SIR-Spheres microspheres will be properly distributed, testing will also determine if there is unacceptable shunting of blood flow from the liver to the lungs or other organs.

» Learn more about how you qualify.

Prior to testing and treatment, the hospital will need to verify your benefits and obtain pre-certification from your medical insurance provider. For more information, please visit the Reimbursement section.

Treatment

Watch the video On the day of your treatment, you will be asked to arrive approximately two hours before the procedure is scheduled. Staff will assist you in completing paperwork, inquire about your medical history and any allergies you may have, and may start an IV containing anti-nausea medication and a mild steroid to reduce possible side effects. Routine lab work is performed prior to moving you to the appropriate angiography suite where the procedure will be performed. You should not eat or drink for a specified time the night before your procedure.

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In the angiography suite, the interventional radiologist will insert a catheter into the femoral artery and to the liver. An angiogram will be taken to ensure the catheter is properly placed in the hepatic artery. Once the catheter is in place, the SIR-Spheres microspheres dose and delivery set will be brought into the suite and attached to the catheter. The SIR-Spheres microspheres are then infused under fluoroscopy. The procedure should take approximately 20 minutes.

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After the infusion of the SIR-Spheres microspheres, the catheter is removed and the artery sealed. The incision will leave a small mark in the groin area, which is cleaned and bandaged prior to relocation to the recovery room. Infusion of SIR-Spheres microspheres is performed as an outpatient procedure, and the patient is typically discharged the same day.

Recovery

You will need to lie flat for two to four hours, and staff will be on hand to monitor you and provide post-procedure instructions, including radiation safety guidelines. If all goes according to plan, you will be allowed to return home the same day. Many patients experience nausea or flu-like symptoms which generally subside in three to four days.

» Learn more about possible side effects.

Please consult your physician if you have any additional questions pertaining to treatment.

To order a copy of the "SIR-Spheres microspheres Patient Information" CD-ROM, simply send us an email with your mailing address.