SIRT therapy (1): best clinics abroad

Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT), also called radioembolization, delivers radiation to liver tumors using microscopic radioactive beads. An interventional radiologist places the beads through a catheter into arteries supplying the targeted liver area. Treatment may be considered for selected primary liver cancers or tumors that have spread to the liver. Suitability depends on the cancer, liver function, blood supply and the wider treatment plan. A planning assessment is needed before the treatment can proceed.

An overseas opinion may help review whether SIRT fits your current cancer care and how it compares with other options. Send complete scan images, pathology and previous treatment records for assessment. Ask how planning and treatment visits are arranged, what could make the procedure unsuitable and where follow-up will take place. International travel also needs to account for the team's radiation precautions and recovery advice. The recommendation should come from specialists familiar with your whole oncology history.

Choosing a liver-directed treatment

SIRT treats a selected area of liver through its arterial blood supply. It is not appropriate for every liver tumor. The team considers disease distribution, liver function, prior therapy and alternative approaches. An oncology review helps establish the goal of treatment and its relationship to medicines or other procedures.

Planning before treatment

Assessment includes imaging, blood tests and review of the liver's blood vessels. An angiographic planning procedure and nuclear medicine assessment help evaluate where particles would travel and whether treatment can be delivered safely. Some findings may lead to a change or cancellation. Ask the team to explain the sequence of appointments before booking accommodation or flights.

Tell clinicians about medicines, allergies, previous liver procedures and any possibility of pregnancy or breastfeeding. Contrast material may be used during angiography. Follow specific instructions on fasting and medicines. The planning and treatment stages have different purposes, even when they are scheduled close together.

Delivery and recovery

A catheter is guided through an artery to the target vessels under imaging. Radioactive microspheres are delivered according to the treatment plan. The team monitors the puncture site and your general condition afterward. Fatigue, nausea and abdominal discomfort can occur. Follow-up tests and imaging assess the liver and the cancer response.

Potential complications include bleeding or injury at the arterial access site, infection, liver dysfunction and radiation damage to nearby organs if particles travel outside the intended area. The team should explain individual risks. Obtain written advice about symptoms requiring urgent assessment and any radiation precautions involving close contact or travel.

Quotation and continuity of care

Costs can include specialist review, mapping, nuclear medicine assessment, microspheres, the treatment procedure, observation and follow-up. Clarify whether both planning and treatment are included and how the quotation changes if treatment cannot proceed. For care abroad, agree who will review subsequent imaging and how reports will reach your usual oncologist.

Frequently asked questions

Is SIRT the same as chemotherapy?

No. Radioactive particles deliver radiation; chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs.

Does planning guarantee that treatment will happen?

No. Mapping may reveal that another approach is more appropriate.

Will other cancer treatment stop?

Not necessarily. The oncology team coordinates the full treatment plan.

When can I travel afterward?

Follow the treating team's recovery advice and radiation safety instructions.