Promising treatment with Lutetium

Prof. Dr. Özgür Şanlı from the Nuclear Medicine Department of Izmir University of Economics (IUE) Medical Point Hospital said, “It is possible to defeat prostate cancer with Lutetium treatment,” mentioning the importance of 'Lutetium' treatment for prostate cancer patients who cannot get results from treatment methods such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Prof. Dr. Özgür Şanlı from Izmir University of Economics (IUE) Medical Point Hospital Nuclear Medicine Department shared information about 'Lutetium' treatment, which is known as atomic therapy but little known among the public. Stating that prostate cancer patients can defeat the disease with Lutetium, which is a radionuclide treatment method, Prof. Dr. Özgür Şanlı said, “Atomic therapy is a general definition. Imagine a smart drug; we can call it a radiation therapy that takes place in the human body after that smart drug is combined with different molecules targeted to certain types of cancer and administered to the patient intravenously or orally. Lutetium is also included in atom therapy. It is generally applied in resistant prostate cancer; for patients who cannot get results in chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatment methods.” Stating that this type of treatment can alleviate symptoms such as bone pain experienced by the patient, Prof. Dr. Özgür Şanlı said, “Lutetium can increase survival time and also has the potential to alleviate symptoms such as bone pain. In some cases, it provides long-term regression of the disease. This is a very important and promising situation for patients who cannot get results from treatment methods such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.”

Different from chemotherapy, no serious side effects

Stating that atomic therapy is important for thyroid, prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumors, Prof. Dr. Şanlı said, “There are differences between chemotherapy and atomic therapy. Atom therapy does not have serious side effects. You can apply this treatment to a 90-year-old patient. There are no side effects such as hair and eyelash loss after atomic therapy. Only patients may have dry mouth. However, this is not a side effect that will affect the patient's daily life. The person can easily continue his daily life.”