Xofigo
If your prostate cancer has spread to your bones, you may be dealing with pain or wondering what treatment options are left. Even if you’ve had treatment to lower your testosterone, your cancer may continue to grow.
At San Antonio Cancer Center in San Antonio, TX, we offer Xofigo, a type of radiation treatment for certain men with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to the bones. It targets cancer in the bones and may help you live longer and delay problems such as broken bones.
When Is Xofigo Recommended?
Prostate cancer cells use testosterone to grow. Many treatments work by lowering testosterone levels. But sometimes, cancer keeps growing even when testosterone levels are very low. Doctors call this castration-resistant prostate cancer.
If the cancer has spread to your bones, you may have pain in your:
- Back
- Hips
- Ribs
Cancer can also weaken your bones and make them more likely to break.
Xofigo is approved for men with castration-resistant prostate cancer that has spread to their bones and is causing symptoms. It isn’t used when cancer has also spread to organs like the liver or lungs.
How Does Xofigo Work?
Xofigo contains a radioactive substance called radium-223. Radium acts much like calcium, a mineral your bones need to stay strong.
When Xofigo enters your blood, it collects in areas of bone affected by cancer. It then releases radiation that damages nearby cancer cells.
This radiation travels only a short distance, which limits damage to healthy tissue.
Because Xofigo travels through your blood, it can reach cancer in different bones at the same time.
What Should You Expect During Xofigo Treatment?
Your care team gives you Xofigo through a vein in your arm. Most men receive:
- One injection every four weeks
- Six injections in total
- About five months of treatment
Before each injection, you’ll have blood tests to check your blood cell counts. Xofigo can affect your bone marrow, where your body makes blood cells.
If your blood counts are too low, your doctor may delay or stop treatment.
Most men can go home shortly after each injection.
What Are the Side Effects of Xofigo?
Common side effects include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Swelling in your arms or legs
Xofigo can also lower your blood cell counts.
- Low red blood cells can make you feel tired or short of breath.
- Low white blood cells can make it harder to fight infections.
- Low platelets can cause easy bruising or bleeding.
Call your care team if you develop a fever, unusual bleeding, severe weakness, or trouble breathing.
Taking Xofigo with abiraterone and prednisone or prednisolone can raise the risk of broken bones and death. These medications should not be used together.
Is It Safe to Be Around Others After Xofigo Treatment?
Yes. You can spend time with family and friends after Xofigo treatment. Hugging and other normal contact are safe.
Your body gets rid of a small amount of radioactive material, mostly through bowel movements. For one week after each injection:
- Flush the toilet several times after use.
- Wash your hands well after using the bathroom.
- Wash clothes soiled with urine, stool or vomit separately.
- Wear gloves when cleaning up bodily waste.
Your care team may give you additional instructions.
Men receiving Xofigo should use condoms during sex. Female partners who could become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment and for six months afterward.
Learn More About Xofigo Treatment in San Antonio
If your prostate cancer has spread to your bones, Xofigo may be an option. The team at San Antonio Cancer Center can review your condition and help you understand your treatment choices.
Contact San Antonio Cancer Center in San Antonio, TX, to schedule an appointment and learn whether Xofigo is right for you.
Xofigo FAQs
1. Is Xofigo the Same as Chemotherapy?
No. Xofigo is a type of radiation therapy, not chemotherapy. It targets cancer in the bones rather than using chemotherapy drugs that work throughout the body.
2. Will Xofigo Help With My Bone Pain?
You may notice less bone pain during treatment, but pain relief isn’t guaranteed. The main goal of Xofigo is to help you live longer and delay problems caused by cancer in your bones.
3. What if My PSA Doesn’t Go Down During Treatment?
Your PSA may not drop even if Xofigo is working. Your doctor will check your symptoms, blood tests and scans when needed.
Your doctor may also check your alkaline phosphatase levels. This blood test can show changes in bone activity
4. What Happens After I Finish My Six Xofigo Treatments?
You’ll continue seeing your cancer care team for follow-up visits. Your doctor will check how your cancer is doing and discuss other treatments if needed.
Doctors don’t yet know whether more than six Xofigo injections are safe or effective.
