Available Treatments

Radiopharmaceuticals

Radiopharmaceuticals are radioactive agents that can be used to diagnosis and treat some cancers. In diagnosing cancer, they provide doctors with certain information about metabolic processes and organ functioning that is not available with other diagnostic procedures.

Radiopharmaceuticals can be given orally or intravenously, or by injection. A diagnostic radiopharmaceutical, used in small amounts, passes through, or is taken up by, an organ of the body. The radioactivity is then detected and pictures are produced with special imaging equipment. These images enable the doctor to study how the organ is working and to detect the presence of cancer or tumors.

Therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals are used in larger amounts. The radioactive agent is taken up in the cancerous area to destroy the affected tissue.

Examples of radiopharmaceuticals used at Cooper are Zevalin and iodine therapy. Zevalin is a new form of cancer therapy called radioimmunotherapy. It is used for certain types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. Iodine therapy is used in thyroid cancer to destroy any tissue not removed by surgery, and to treat the cancer that has spread to lymph nodes and other parts of the body. Studies have shown that radioactive iodine therapy improves the survival rate.

Types of Cancer Treated with Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals

• Bone cancer (metastatic)
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas
• Fluid accumulation in abdominal cavity or linings of lungs in patients with ovarian or lung cancer
• Thyroid cancer

For more information about Radiation Oncology at Cooper University Hospital or to make an appointment with a Cooper University Hospital physician at an office near you, please call 1-800-8-COOPER to speak with a member of our physician referral and information service.