Xofigo®

Xofigo® is a treatment for patients with prostate cancer that has spread to the bones. It can help to relieve bone pain, slow disease progression and reduce the likelihood of complications, such as bone fractures. It has been shown to improve life expectancy.

A course of Xofigo® therapy usually consists of six injections given at four-week intervals, known as ‘cycles’. The Nuclear Medicine Department will arrange your injections and inform you of the dates you will need to attend. You will also have regular appointments with your oncology team over the course of therapy to confirm that you are well enough to receive the treatment.

 

How does it work?

Xofigo® is a radioactive liquid given as an injection into a vein in your arm. Xofigo® contains radium-223, a radioactive element chemically similar to calcium, which is absorbed into sites of bone cancer. The radium-223 emits very short-range radiation, called alpha particles. This enables us to deliver a dose of radiation to cancer cells in the bone, whilst minimising the radiation dose to normal healthy cells.