Liver Cancer Treatment with Angio Method
Liver Radiomicrophere Treatment, which has been applied in the treatment of liver tumors in the world İn recent years, was first time carried out in our country at the Near East University Hospital and applied to two patients who had no surgical operations by Prof. Dr. Nuri Aslan, Head of Nuclear Medicine Department. The treatment, which increases the life expectancy and quality of life of the patients, is carried out by targeting the tumors in the liver with the radioactive material injected into the main vein of the liver through an angio-like method. It is aimed that the tumor tissue will shrink and disappear within two months after the procedure.

With the decision of the council consisting of nuclear medicine, radiology and oncology specialists at the Near East University Hospital, two cancer patients who could not get results from traditional treatments were put under Radiomicrosphere treatment for the first time in Cyprus.

Two patients with liver metastases, one with neuroendocrine and the other with lung cancer, who did not have sufficient response to chemotherapy and other systemic treatments, and who had no chance of surgery, were treated with radiomicrosphere treatment at the Near East University Hospital,.

The patients evaluated in the council, which included the experts of nuclear medicine, interventional radiology and oncology before the treatment, were found suitable for treatment, primarily because they had sufficient liver functions and met certain required criteria. In the first phase of the treatment, which was carried out in two stages, starting with the mapping test, the treatment simulation was performed using radioactive labeled microspheres without therapeutic properties. After the test phase, through which radioactive microsphere injection to the lung or other organs was evaluated and the treatment dose to be applied was determined, it was decided that radiomicrosphere treatment would be beneficial for both patients.

In the second stage, it was aimed to destroy the tumor areas with the therapeutic radio-labeled microspheres, which were applied with the angiographic procedure performed in the groin, while the previous test study preserved the non-tumor intact liver tissue. It was planned to verify the treatment response after successful application with imaging tests to be performed within 1-2 months.

Prof. Dr. Nuri Arslan; "Radiomicrosphere treatment can be applied safely in cancers that arise from the liver's own tissue and do not have the chance of surgery, or in cases where cancers of other organs have spread to the liver, when sufficient or expected response to chemotherapy is not obtained or the patient cannot continue chemotherapy treatment.
Stating that radiomicrosphere treatment increases the chance of success when applied together with chemotherapy, extends the life span and improves the quality of life in all patient groups. Dr. Nuri Arslan said that there are many published scientific publications in the literature regarding this proven treatment method.

Stating that for the implementation, a hospital environment with experienced nuclear medicine and interventional radiology experts and the necessary infrastructure should be provided, Prof. Dr. Nuri Arslan pointed out that the treatment can be applied safely in patients who do not have a surgical chance and do not respond to chemotherapy.

Radiomicrosphere treatment with local anesthesia
One-night hospitalization is recommended for the test and treatment stages in the treatment of Radiomicrosphere applied under local anesthesia. The next day, patients can continue their daily lives.

Radiomicrosphere treatment has no significant side effects.
Radiomicrosphere treatment has no significant side effects that may adversely affect the daily life of patients. During the mapping and testing phase, all measures are taken to prevent the occurrence of any treatment-related complications. No preparation is required for the treatment. There is no necessity to change eating habits. In addition, there is no hair loss due to treatment as in some chemotherapy applications.

Who is the radiomicrosphere treatment for?
Radiomicrosphere treatment is mostly applied to patients who have metastasized to the liver due to cancers originating from the liver's own tissue, mainly neuroendocrine tumors, colon, bile duct and breast cancers, and eye melanoma cancer. It is effective in liver tumors where the liver is the only or major region of the disease. Before being recommended as a treatment option to patients, the most important factor to consider is that the liver functions adequately and the general health status of the treatment candidate is at a certain level.