Before Your Visit

We are so happy that you have decided to come to us for all your vascular access port and liver cancer treatment needs. When you visit our center for your treatment, we want you to be comfortable throughout the entire process – from initial consultation to after recovery. We know dealing with medical procedures can be stressful; therefore, we never want you to feel unprepared for your appointment.

Please use the information below to help prepare for your vascular access port and liver cancer treatment. If at any time you have a question, please feel free to give us a call at 855.870.4747.

Whether you are doing an in-person or virtual consultation, it is important that you bring the following items to your visit:

  • Photo ID
  • A list of your current medications
  • Insurance information and card
  • Information about what treatments and medications have been tried in the past
  • Medical records from prior visits that you think may be helpful

Medical Records

Prior to your first visit to USA Oncology Centers, we will handle obtaining your medical records and other documents related to your previous cancer treatments.

Please let your health care provider(s) know that USA Oncology Center has authorization to collect this documentation on your behalf. Please complete the Medical History and Authorization to Release and Disclose Information forms, in which you will provide information about your previous hospitals/physicians and authorize the release of private health information.

You can also download and print them by clicking on the document below. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to open and print these pages.

Medical History and Authorization

Once completed, you can scan and email, or mail the forms to us. Complete instructions are included in the above file.

If you have any questions about this process, please call USA Oncology Centers at 855.870.4747.

Mapping Arteriogram Before Treatment

About a month before your SIRT treatment, you will be scheduled for a mapping arteriogram. A mapping arteriogram is completed beforehand in order to properly plan for your SIRT treatment.

The first part of the mapping will tell us which arteries are currently bringing blood to the liver tumors. It will also tell us if there are arteries that carry blood outside of your liver to other areas in your abdomen.

When these arteries are found, we are able to block those in order to ensure the radiation during the SIRT treatment won’t harm your other organs. This is why SIRT is unique, by effectively targeting liver tumors without hurting nearby organs and structures. The second part of the mapping angiogram will check for any possible flow of radiation from your liver to your lungs.

During Treatment

Preparing for Your Y-90 SIRT Treatment

After your angiogram has been completed, you will be scheduled for your treatment. You may need to have a blood test before you have your SIRT treatment to test your liver functionality. This depends on a variety of different conditions; therefore, our front-desk staff will alert you if this needs to occur.

What to Expect During Your Treatment

At USA Oncology Centers, we aim to give our patients everything they need to be prepared for their procedure. On the day of your treatment, you will be brought into a comfortable, clean room and helped onto an exam table. Our physician will prepare the monitors to measure your heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure levels. You will be given a light sedation similar to the dentist’s office so you can be comfortable throughout the treatment.

Once you’re relaxed, a catheter will be placed through the artery in your groin by utilizing the body’s vast network of arteries. Tiny, radioactive beads will be supplied through the catheter flowing into the arteries that supply blood to your liver. Once the treatment is complete, the oncologist will remove the catheter in your artery and seal it closed.

You will be able to relax after your treatment before going home. Your oncologist will check on you to make sure you are feeling well-enough to stand up and go home. At this time, our staff will ensure you are not feeling light-headed and will provide you with anything you need before leaving our treatment center.

When to Notify Your Healthcare Provider

One of the many benefits of SIRT is that it is generally well-tolerated by individuals. However, like any medical procedure, every person may experience mild side effects differently. Because of this, it’s important to notify your healthcare provider if you:

  • Have a fever of 100.4° F (38° C) or higher.
  • Experience pain that doesn’t go away, especially around your groin area.
  • Have nausea or vomiting that is worse than it was before your mapping procedure or treatment.
  • Feeling any other symptoms that worry you.

Our staff is ready to assist in any way we can. Our oncologists and staff can help answer any questions or concerns you may have about your treatment.