Therapy with Lutetium is the latest method for treating metastatic cancer and neuroendocrine tumors. With this innovative technology it is now possible to find a tumor and metastases by directing a special biological molecule there and to carry out targeted treatment without affecting the adjacent healthy cells. But is this new treatment expensive?
How much is Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy?
The cost of cancer treatment is always a sensitive issue. Patients sometimes question its validity by comparing the prices of services in different medical centers. Some are convinced that hospitals are focused on profit. Others understand that a lot depends on the quality of treatment.
When it comes to innovative treatment like therapy with Lutetium-177 PSMA, people should keep in mind that the new technology is currently used in a limited number of hospitals, most of which are abroad. Apart from that, the price is influenced by the specifics of the diagnosis, the necessity of stabilization of the health condition of patients, the country and the hospital therapy is held in, the need for inpatient treatment, etc.
The list below might be helpful if you are going to have treatment with Lutetium-177:
- The cost of Lutetium treatment for neuroendocrine tumors starts at 12,000 EUR
- The cost of prostate cancer treatment with Lutetium-177 starts at 8,378 EUR
- The price for diagnostics with PSMA-PET CT starts at 2,348 EUR
For a personal calculation of the cost of Lutetium treatment, visit the Booking Health website.
Meanwhile, let’s dive deeper into what the price is based upon.
What does Lutetium treatment imply?
Lutetium-177 is used in the treatment of tumors and metastatic lesions of bone tissues and internal organs. The world’s leading hospitals use preparations based on this isotope. Lutetium-177 emits beta radiation that destroys the cells affected by cancer. The radioactive isotope connects to the cancer cells and delivers radiation targetedly.
PSMA is a protein found on the surface of prostate cells. It is present in healthy cells, but in prostate cancer there is an increased amount of the protein on the surface of metastases, which distinguishes them from other cells. If cancer has spread to other body regions, the PSMA protein will be found in those areas as well.
The Lutetium-177 PSMA treatment uses a molecule that binds to PSMA receptors found on the surface of cancer cells. PSMA molecules are preliminarily bound to Lutetium-177 and serve as a carrier. Thus, the rest of the body remains unaffected by the radiation.
The results of Lutetium treatment
The experience of using this method in leading foreign hospitals has demonstrated that in 50% of cases the condition of patients improves significantly, up to the regression of distant metastases, which is usually extremely difficult to achieve.
Thanks to the targeted effect of Lutetium-177 it is possible to reduce the tumor volume, slow down the growth of metastases, and relieve pain and other symptoms of the disease in a short period. At the same time, the side effects are minimal and reversible. About 30% of patients experience dry mouth, up to 10% experience nausea and vomiting, nothing more.
The therapy can be effective primarily against advanced prostate cancer with metastases in bones and internal organs and neuroendocrine tumors.
How to undergo Lutetium-177 treatment during a lockdown?
Many innovative treatments are available only at hospitals abroad. Lutetium-177 treatment also belongs to this category. Considering the fact that Lutetium treatment is highly recommended for men with metastatic prostate cancer and people with NETs, there’s no room for hesitation regarding going abroad during a lockdown. And Booking Health is ready to help you with whatever you need.
The organization of treatment is fully on Booking Health. The company takes care of the communication with the hospital, making appointments and issuing a visa (even if the embassy currently doesn’t accept any applications), etc. Among other things, Booking Health provides the cost of treatment guarantee and doesn’t ask for any additional fees whatsoever.
If you want to know how to start Lutetium-177 treatment, fill in the request form on the Booking Health website, and a medical advisor will be with you shortly.
