Theranostics

Theranostics is a highly personalised approach to cancer medicine combining diagnostic imaging with therapy. Radium-223 therapy is a treatment for prostate cancer that has spread (metastasised) to your bones and is causing you pain. Your doctor may recommend it if your cancer has become resistant to hormone therapy or other treatments are unsuitable. This kind of cancer can’t be completely eradicated, however, the aim of Radium-223 therapy is to ease pain and slow down the progress of the disease.

This highly personalised therapy is available in our state-of-the-art treatment centres in OxfordWindsor and Surrey. Our multidisciplinary Theranostics team, led by a world-leading expert, will work with your referring doctor to decide if this treatment is right for you and what you can expect from it.

Book an appointment

To find out if you could benefit from Radium-223 therapy, book an appointment with our experts or ask for a referral from your oncologist.

0808 304 2332
0808 304 2332

How does Radium-223 therapy work?

Before the treatment

Before starting treatment, you’ll need a bone scan to confirm the cancer has spread to your bones without affecting other organs, such as your liver.  Bone scans can be performed at our centre in Windsor, if required.

Radium-223 therapy is a type of internal radiotherapy that uses a radioactive form of the metal radium to treat the spread of cancer to the bones. It is also known as Radium-223 Dichloride or by the brand name ‘Xofigo’.

A very small amount of radioactive liquid containing Radium-223 is injected into your bloodstream through a vein in your arm and the areas in your bones that are affected by prostate cancer absorb it.

Why is Radium­­­-223 used to treat cancer?

Radium-223 is used in this treatment because it behaves in a similar way to calcium in the body. Cancerous areas in your bones takes up more calcium than normal bone tissue. Because Radium-223 acts like calcium, it’s also taken up by these diseased areas and collects there. This means the Radium-223 delivers targeted radiotherapy for the prostate cancer, while healthy bone tissues take up much less Radium-223, limiting the side effects of treatment.

Does Radium-223 kill cancer cells?

Radium-223 therapy destroys the cancer cells, which helps to control pain and can slow down the progress of the disease. Before starting treatment, you’ll have a highly precise imaging scan to confirm that the cancer has spread to your bones without affecting other organs, such as your liver.

Radium-223 therapy life expectancy: how successful is it?

Radium-223 therapy is for men with prostate cancer who have painful bone metastases. While this kind of cancer can’t be completely eradicated, the aim of Radium-223 therapy is to ease pain and slow down the progress of the disease. Your consultant will explain what you can expect from this treatment.

Who is Radium-223 therapy for?

Radium-223 therapy may be suitable for you if you:

  • Have prostate cancer that has spread to your bones but not other organs
  • Experience bone pain
  • Have had hormone treatment that is no longer working
  • Have either had or aren’t suitable for Docetaxel (a chemotherapy drug)

Because the medicine is naturally removed form the body through the faeces, if you don’t have full control over your bowel movements (also known as faecal incontinence), this treatment is not suitable for you because of the risk of exposing other people to radiation such as when handling soiled clothing.

If you have cancer that has spread to other organs such as the liver or have large amounts of cancer in your lymph nodes, then an alternative Theranostics treatment called ¹⁷⁷Lutetium PSMA therapy may be suitable for you. You can ask your consultant for more details.

What does Radium-223 therapy involve?

Radium-223 therapy is available at our GenesisCare centres in OxfordWindsor and Surrey. It’s normally given as a course of up to six treatments cycles that are each four weeks apart. Before your first appointment, your care team will call you to explain any preparation instructions in advance of each treatment and to answer any questions you may have.

What are Radium-223 side effects?

As with all cancer treatments, you may experience side effects, but they aren’t usually serious. Our Theranostics care team will discuss these with you before treatment and you’ll be given contact details to phone if you have any issues.

Side effects include a temporary reduction in the number of blood cells your body produces causing anaemia, as well as fatigue or tiredness, and some patients describe feeling general aches and pains all over for a day or two after treatment. You may experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea and dehydration, but this happens rarely.

If you experience any of the following more severe side effects, you should contact our Theranostics care team immediately:

  • Any unusual bruising
  • More bleeding than usual after an injury
  • Fever (a high temperature)
  • Experiencing a lot of colds or getting other infections
  • Pain, swelling or numbness of the jaw, a “heavy jaw” feeling or loosening of a tooth

Our team will continue to follow up on your health and wellbeing by phone or email during and after your treatment. You’ll meet the same care team at each appointment so they’ll get to know you and you can ask them any questions.

Is Radium-223 therapy safe?

Radium-223 is considered a safe treatment for your condition. However, the radiation can cause damage to cells in the body that may have longer term health effects to you and anyone else exposed to it. Your consultant will consider this, along with other risks, during the planning of your treatment and will fully discuss them with you. You’ll be given advice at each appointment as well as an instruction card with your treatment record to show any other healthcare professional treating you for any reason, including your dentist.

Why choose GenesisCare?

We offer many state-of-the-art treatments for prostate cancer, including chemotherapy and advanced radiotherapy. Your personalised treatment plan will be tailored to your individual needs and delivered by a dedicated team including nuclear medicine nurse support, physicists, radiographers and clinical nurse specialists.

We understand living with advanced cancer can feel overwhelming. That’s why we have partnered with the Penny Brohn UK charity to provide personalised wellbeing therapies, such as acupuncture, massage and counselling, to support you throughout this challenging time.

Our patients are also offered a tailored exercise medicine programme which is proven to help some people improve treatment tolerance, function, fatigue and quality of life. If you choose to take part, one of our highly trained physiotherapists will provide you with a personalised program of exercises that are adapted to your abilities, goals and diagnosis.

These services are available to you at no extra cost to you or your insurer because we understand the importance of supporting you throughout your treatment journey and the positive impact these therapies can have.

After all, we’re treating you – not just your cancer.

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