PRRT Treatment Day Overview
How Does A Typical PRRT Day Look Like?

This is an overview of the Treatment Day for a Neuroendocrine Tumor (NET) patient receiving PRRT (Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy).
This overview provides the patient and the caregiver a peek at what to expect during a typical PRRT treatment with Lu177 (Lutathera) and it covers the following aspects of a typical PRRT treatment day:
- The night before and/ or the morning of the treatment day (infusion)
- Before infusion
- Infusion
- After infusion & discharge from the hospital
1. The night before and the morning of each infusion:
Many a patients and caregivers ask about whether or not the patient needs to follow any dietary restrictions. The straight forward answer to this question is a “No!”
The patient can eat anything (s)he likes and this could include wine/ spirits during dinner time. The only advise that doctors give is, not to over indulge and get dehydrated. Also, during breakfast, the patient can eat anything that (s)he wants. It is advised that patients shouldn’t come on an empty stomach and at the same time doctors also talk of avoiding a heavy breakfast.
2. Treatment Day - Before infusion:
Patients are usually asked to come in the morning. After checking-in at the hospital, the patient is asked to change into a different attire because the treatment/ infusion involves radioactive material and this ensures that the patient’s clothing is free from radiation.
The patient is then taken to a different room for infusion. Here the patient receives room and bed orientation and is briefed about the treatment process. You will notice that absorbent pads placed on the floor throughout the room. This is a precautionary measure that’s taken in case of a radioactive spill. Moreover, the pads make the process of cleaning of the room far easier after the treatment is administered.
Before the infusion, the nursing staff from the hospital take the patient’s vitals, such as, height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, temperature etc. These vitals are constantly monitored during the treatment process.
Post this, the team of doctors at the center review the patient’s medical, surgical and/ or medication history. This is usually followed up with a physical exam or a review of the body’s systems.
The nursing staff then places a peripheral IV catheter into a vein in the arm. This is temporary and is removed once the patient is discharged.
The patient is then briefed about the various “Do’s & Don’ts” by the Radiation Safety Team. This information is also provided to the patient as a part of the discharge summary.