Strontium-89 for treatment of painful bone metastasis from prostate cancer

Abstract

Purpose/objective: To review the current use of strontium-89 (89Sr) to treat pain related to bony metastasis secondary to prostate cancer.

Data sources: Published articles.

Data synthesis: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. The disease's most common site of metastasis is the bones. Bone metastasis leads to unrelenting pain. If healthcare providers are able to manage a patient's pain successfully, the patient's quality of life improves.

Conclusion: When conventional therapies fail, 89Sr can be used as an alternative or an adjunct to pain management of bony metastasis in prostate cancer.

Implications for nursing practice: Nursing intervention primarily involves assessing pain, monitoring analgesics until 89Sr can begin to take effect, educating patients on using other medications with 89Sr, and assessing fatigue resulting from 89Sr-induced myelosuppression. As pain decreases, nurses also should monitor patients' activity levels, since they are at risk for pathologic fractures.