Radiopharmaceutical Therapy

Using radioactive isotopes to treat certain cancers is also called systemic radiation therapy. The radioactive isotopes may be swallowed or given intravenously. For example, radioactive iodine (I-131) capsules are given to patients to treat some types of thyroid cancer. Another example is the use of intravenous radioactive Quadremet to treat pain due to cancer that has spread to the bone.