Patients in Westchester County no longer need to travel long distances for advanced cancer imaging and therapy. Phelps Hospital, part of Northwell Health, is now offering Theranostics — a groundbreaking medical approach that combines diagnostic imaging with targeted radiation therapy using radiotracers to detect and treat certain types of cancer.
While Northwell Health has offered Theranostics at other locations across its system, this marks the first time the comprehensive program is available at Phelps, significantly increasing access for local patients. The hospital now provides both full-body imaging and therapeutic treatments using specialized isotopes that find and destroy cancer cells with precision.
“Theranostics isn’t just a new treatment, it’s a new way of thinking about cancer care,” Stephen Scharf, M.D., chief, Division of Radiology at Northwell Phelps Hospital. “While the science isn’t new, it’s new to our region and it means patients can now receive cutting-edge, compassionate care close to home, without the stress of traveling or waiting.”
Theranostics, short for “therapeutics” and “diagnostics,” is a precision medicine approach that uses radioactive compounds to both visualize and treat cancer. These radiopharmaceuticals are designed to bind to specific targets on cancer cells, allowing physicians to first scan and detect tumors and then deliver targeted radiation to treat them. This method helps ensure that only patients whose tumors express certain molecular markers receive the therapy, which improve outcomes and reduces side effects.
Currently, Phelps offers two leading FDA-approved Theranostics treatments:
Pluvicto, a newly introduced therapy for metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer and Lutathera is used to treat neuroendocrine tumors, decreasing the risk of disease progression or death by 79% when compared to high-dose octreotide therapy.
In addition to these therapies, Phelps offers I-131 treatment for thyroid disorders and recently launched an MRI Prostate Imaging Center of Excellence, expanding its diagnostic capabilities for men’s health.
