Receiving Radioligand Therapy

Doctors, nurses, and nuclear medicine specialists work together to administer the dose, following the rule of “right drug, right patient, right time” to ensure safety.

Giving the radioligand therapy is usually done in a special treatment room. The patient might receive the medicine through an intravenous line, IV, or injection. For example, Lutetium-177 PSMA is given by IV infusion, while Radium-223 is given by a quick injection into a vein. Doctors, nurses, and nuclear medicine specialists work together to administer the dose. They verify the patient’s identity and the drug one more time, following the rule of “right drug, right patient, right time” to ensure safety. The actual infusion or injection typically takes only a short time, minutes to an hour, depending on the drug. It’s generally painless aside from the needle, similar to getting a routine injection or IV medicine. The patient is monitored during this period, but it’s usually a straightforward procedure. After receiving the radioligand, patients might be given simple instructions. For instance, staying hydrated to help flush out any excess radioactive material, or safety tips like using the toilet carefully for a few days. However, because these therapies target the cancer so specifically, patients can often go home shortly after treatment with minimal special precautions.