From the USA to Germany: Mr. Ellis Shares Lu-177 PSMA Treatment Journey for Prostate Cancer
When prostate cancer stops responding the way you hoped, you start doing what so many patients and families do: you search. You look for a next step that feels practical, not experimental, something with real-world experience behind it, and a plan you can understand.
For some men, that search leads beyond the U.S. to Germany. Not because care at home isn’t strong, but because German centers have certain advantages. When time, options, clarity, and coordination matter, medical travel can feel like a deliberate decision to obtain the right care in the right place.
That’s the point where Mr. Ellis’s story begins: what pushed him to look overseas, how he chose Germany, and what it was like to go through treatment far from home.
The Patient's Story in Details
Prostate cancer is often considered one of the more treatable cancers, especially when detected early and treated in time. But advanced disease can behave differently: even after multiple rounds of therapy, a few remaining cancer cells can persist and later trigger a serious relapse.
That’s what happened to Mr. Ellis. He contacted Airomedical after hormonal therapy for stage IV prostate cancer did not deliver the results he and his doctors were hoping for. At that point, our priority was clear: help him access a therapy that matched his disease stage and current condition without losing time.
Mr. Ellis had already explored Lu-177 therapy in the United States, but he was not approved under local eligibility criteria and clinical protocols. Because qualification rules can vary by country and by center, a patient who is “not eligible” in one system may still be evaluated differently elsewhere, particularly when the case is reassessed using specialized imaging and multidisciplinary review.
That’s where Germany offered a real benefit. German nuclear medicine teams operate in high-volume settings and typically follow a structured, rapid diagnostic-to-treatment workflow, with PSMA imaging and therapy planning performed under one roof. For Mr. Ellis, we arranged evaluation and treatment at Helios Hospital Berlin-Buch, where the next step was immediate: confirm disease activity and suitability using PSMA PET imaging.
After reviewing Mr. Ellis’s medical records and scan data, the care team confirmed the diagnosis and extent of disease. His PSMA PET scan showed a prostate lesion as well as metastases in the bones and lymph nodes, according to the attending nuclear medicine specialist, Prof. Dr. med Stefan Dresel.
From there, the track became clear, and for Mr. Ellis, Germany was no longer just an option. It was the place where he could finally move forward.
Treatment Used in The Case of Mr. Ellis
Therapeutic radionuclides are produced in controlled nuclear facilities and used as targeted medicines designed to “seek out” tumor cells while limiting their impact on surrounding healthy tissues.
One of the gentler and most widely used options in this category is Lutetium-177 (Lu-177), which delivers beta radiation and can be effective even when prostate cancer has spread, including to the bones.
“In prostate cancer treatment, lutetium-177 is paired with a special molecule that targets the PSMA receptor,” explains Prof. Dr. Stefan Dresel. “Healthy tissues may have small amounts of PSMA, but prostate cancer cells often have much more of it. That’s why the therapy can focus its action, essentially recognizing the target and working where the disease is.”
If you’d like a clearer picture, you can read more medical breakdowns of how Lu-177 works and who may qualify. And for practical details on access, workflow, and the organization of Lu-177 in German clinics.
Video Interview After Lutetium 177 Therapy
Our team recorded a short interview with the patient to capture his genuine feedback and personal perspective. The video was filmed promptly and left unedited to preserve the authenticity of the patient’s thoughts and experience.
Mr. Ellis's Final Results
The number of treatment sessions typically ranges up to six. At the same time, the method's effectiveness is very high.
In Mr. Ellis's case, after two procedures, a control PET scan showed a significant reduction in metastatic burden. In the bones, they almost completely disappeared. We nearly defeated the tumor, and the patient began to come back to life.
Cited Feedback from Mr. Ellis
"Last Friday, I received the interpretation of the results from my local oncologist. I am waiting to receive the CD of the scan. The news was beyond my expectations. All evidence of the cancer is gone, and I have been declared "No Evidence of Disease." This is as Dr. Dresel had predicted after the second treatment, but I admit I was skeptical.
I cannot adequately express my appreciation to both of you and Airomedical! I could not have undertaken this process without you. Please pass along my sincere thanks to Maria, my hardworking and patient interpreter. She was more than an interpreter, and I regard her as a dear friend. Also, please pass my profound thanks to the doctors at the clinic for their good humor and incredible medical skills. A special thanks to Head Nurse Pfeiffer for her care, friendliness, and skill in making the long isolation “sehr angenehm. The outcome for me has been nothing short of astonishing. I am receiving many inquiries as to how to access this treatment, and I am referring the inquiries to your website."
What Side Effects Did Our Patient Report?
Another major benefit of treatment is a minimal number of side effects. On the day of the session, the patient is recommended to drink as much water as possible (to minimize the load on the kidneys and accelerate the removal of radioactive particles), as well as to keep cold packs at the salivary glands for several hours after the session (there are also a lot of PSMA receptors there, and cold minimizes the accumulation of radioactivity).
The same happened to Mr. Ellis, who smoothly underwent both sessions without complications. It is also worth noting that our patient had neuropathy, so the therapy didn't harm even compromised cases.
"Our patient feels well for the first time in many years of treatment: he has good blood tests and feels well. There is a slight weakness after the sessions, but this is the easiest side effect compared to other treatment types, - says Prof. Stefan Dresel.