Is there an alternative to wide field radiotherapy for patients with widely disseminated bone metastases?
Radioactive isotopes are an alternative option. These bone-seeking agents have been developed to deliver medium to high-energy beta radiation directly to the site of the tumors while sparing normal tissues. Q: What are the advantages of these radiopharmaceutical agents? A: They are simple to administer, have little toxicity, provide pain relief within 1-2 weeks, and can be used alone or in conjunction with analgesics or external beam radiation. Strontium-89, which was first approved in Canada for bone pain palliation, is administered intravenously over 2 minutes in patients with enough white blood cell and platelet counts. It is a calcium analogue, and when injected into the bloodstream, it targets areas where calcium uptake is seen, including growing bone cancer. Patients can obtain pain relief for up to six months with a single injection. Strontium-89 is most commonly used in the palliative management of metastatic prostate cancer. Q: Does strontium-89 have any adverse effects? A: Th
