Every attempt has been made to insure the accuracy of this material, however, medical science is constantly changing. If the information on this page differs from what you have been told by a nurse, pharmacist or physician, consult the person who told you differently or the manufacturer. The radioisotope of an alkaline earth element, it is injected as strontium chloride, which is soluble in water, thus ionized. The strontium ion acts like calcium and seeks bone tissue. It is absorbed into the bony matrix and is thought to destroy cancer cells as it decomposes, providing pain relief and decreasing the amount of analgesics needed.
Bone pain caused by osteblastic bony metastasis from cancer, usually protate and breast.
THe onset should occur within hours. This lasts for 2 to 4 days and may necessitate an increase in the pain medication the patient is taking. The flare may indicate that the strontium is being successfully absorbed into the cancer cells in the bone. Pain relief usually peaks 7-10 days after injection. Maximum pain relief occurs about 6 weeks after injection.