Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital performs New Brunswick-first procedure for liver cancer patients

(MONCTON) – Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital (TMH) has become the first in New Brunswick to perform a cutting-edge procedure for patients with liver cancer.

TheraSphere, also known as transarterial radioembolization, is used to treat certain types of liver cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver metastases.

The minimally invasive procedure involves blocking blood supply to a liver tumor and injecting radioactive glass spheres directly into the tumor.

“It is typically seen as the gold standard across Canada for individuals with liver cancer and tumors that have been not receptive to other treatment methods,” said Crystal Bevans, Nuclear Medicine Supervisor at TMH. “It was almost like Christmas where everybody was so excited and amped up, but also very much a pride in what we were being able to offer our patients.”

By targeting the tumors with precision, the outpatient treatment aims to shorten hospital stays, reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. Bevans pointed to research which shows that trans-arterial radioembolization offers superior overall survival rates compared to previous treatments.

Horizon’s Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine teams have been working with Boston Scientific for the past several years to make this project a reality.

That included applying for a licence amendment with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, the national body that governs the use of radioactive materials.

The first two patients were successfully treated in late September with no complications and no side effects.

“This achievement exemplifies our commitment to bringing innovative, evidence-based treatments to New Brunswickers close to home,” said Jeff Carter, Horizon’s VP Professional Services. “The collaboration between our Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine teams, along with our partnership with Boston Scientific, demonstrates the caliber of care our staff deliver every day. We’re proud to offer patients access to this life-extending treatment without having to travel outside the province.”

The team plans to treat at least 15 patients at TMH during the first year of the project.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, 90 New Brunswickers were diagnosed with liver cancer in 2023.

Cutting-edge procedures such as TheraSphere support Horizon’s strategic pillar of delivering excellence in hospital care by transforming the delivery of clinical care to meet evolving health care needs.

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