For most of you this will be the driest reading I've ever posted as it is purely informational and very specific to those of us and our caregivers fighting the Effing Evil Empire with any and all means.
RA-223 or trade name Xofigo [pronounced Zo-fe-go all long vowels] is a Radium isotope. In some mystical physics mumbo jumbo RA-223 is in love with calcium. For those of us with Castrate Resistant P.C. and bone mets this relationship is a great thing.
Where there is a met there is a calcium producing machine. Keep in mind your bones are replaced about every ten years. Slower as we get older. If your bone has an ouch, in this case a met, the calcium production is much more prevalent. This is why they give you an isotope that is attracted to calcium when you have a bone scan. That isotope also loves calcium and is the glowy part of the resulting bone scan picture. [I think in the past I might have posted one of my scans if you are curious]
Xofigo is quite new. In fact so my new my main Oncologist wasn't familiar with it. This doesn't mean my Onc isn't in the know it means that the medical bureaucracy, even in a world class cancer center, is slow slow slow when adding to their pharmacology. However, my Radio-Oncologist was familiar with the drug so just make sure you keep asking or bring a web site for reference.
Without becoming even more boring there are many different types of radiation. For example, Gamma radiation would be the one that will make you all crispy when someone drops the bomb. Additionally there are different types of atomic particles given off during radioactive decay. This is a good thing.
RA-223 emits an Alpha particle. This is new in the treatment of bone mets. The Alpha particle is much less active than Beta particles and the area the Alpha particle effects, in the case of RA-223, is measured in cell widths. This allows the RA-223 to embrace its love for calcium, emit its Alpha and kill cancer cells all without terrible bone marrow damage. Please remember...this is not a cure.
The "drug" is administered in a painless IV push and it takes more time in the waiting room than it does to get your dose. It is painless, well for me as I don't have a needle issue. I'm on my second dose with no particular side effects which for my body is pretty damn amazing. Especially when I seem to always fall into that "less than 1% of patients suffered such and such side effect.
Six doses over six months. They will keep close watch on your blood. I found it easiest to time my monthly Onc blood test to within five days of the Xofigo [five days is the rule] treatment so I don't have to make so many trips.
I won't bore you with increased survivability stats and more technical crap. You can look it up or ask your Onc. Just thought I'd share so you all could see there is another new option out there in the ever changing landscape of the fight against the Effing Evil Empire.
I'm assuming some of my posts are entertaining. Please accept my apologies as I know this one is not.
Talk to you later
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