Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy is becoming a popular treatment choice for men with metastatic prostate cancer. In many patients with advanced prostate cancer, this treatment has led to successful results even if previous surgery, radiation therapy, and systemic drug treatments were ineffective. Due to technical complexity, Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy is available in a limited number of the world’s specialized healthcare institutions.
Prostate cancer overview
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men over the age of 50. Researchers are currently unable to identify the exact causes of prostate cancer. It is believed that DNA changes play a role in cancer development. It is also considered that radiation exposure, chronic inflammation, chemicals, and high androgen levels also cause changes that lead to cancer.
Complications of untreated prostate cancer
Advanced prostate cancer can cause:
- Bladder dysfunction
- Erectile dysfunction
- Loss of fertility
- Bowel dysfunction
When the pathology is detected early, the treatment of prostate cancer is usually successful. However, as soon as metastases appear, the prognosis of the disease changes dramatically.
What is Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy?
PSMA is a type of protein found in the membranes of prostate cells. Although the epithelium of the prostate naturally has a small amount of PSMA, men with prostate cancer have very high PSA levels and PSMA expression.
Lutetium-177 therapy is a radiation-based treatment that uses a molecule to bind a radioisotope to PSMA receptors located on cancer cells. Lutetium-177 emits beta radiation, which effectively damages cancer cells and destroys them over time.
Prostate cancer treatment with Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy
Radical prostatectomy is considered the most effective treatment for localized prostate cancer, it allows the tumor to be removed completely. However, even the removal of the primary focus of the disease does not exclude the appearance of distant metastases in the postoperative period.
The main cause for the recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy is the remaining in the body cancer cells, which are capable of uncontrolled multiplication.
Men with the relapse of prostate cancer may find treatment with Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy a suitable option. In many men with prostate cancer, Lutetium PSMA therapy has resulted in long-term remission.
Despite the complexity of radionuclide therapy, the quality of life of patients with prostate cancer after the treatment improves markedly. Pain is relieved, the size of the tumor is reduced and patients enhance their self-care skills.
Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy is generally used in cases when other treatment options are ineffective. It has proven to be an efficient therapy for metastatic prostate cancer when other treatments have failed.
How can I undergo Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy during a lockdown?
Many countries have closed their borders following the lockdown regimen, due to the spread of the COVID-19. Thus, undergoing treatment abroad has become more complicated.
In case you need to undergo Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy promptly, to continue your treatment abroad, or to make sure you get the best treatment possible, know that you can still undergo treatment abroad even if your country is in lockdown.
Booking Health can facilitate the arrangement of the Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy by offering the following services:
- Communication with the chosen hospital
- Providing patients with up-to-date information about the cost of treatment
- Translation of medical reports
- Solving the issues with receiving a medical visa, even if the request for a visa has been declined
- If due to lockdown the embassy is closed completely, Booking Health resolves the issue through the federal police
- Medical visa extension when it is necessary to continue the treatment abroad
- Flight and accommodation booking
- Interpreting services
You can be free of unnecessary stress, while Booking Health takes care of all organizational issues. To specify any information, you may just leave a request on the Booking Health website, and a medical advisor will contact you shortly.
