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Food might taste salty or like metal after your treatment. This is temporary and usually goes away within 8 weeks after your treatment. Try foods with different flavors to make sure you get the nutrition you need. You may not have any side effects from the treatment right after you get it, but you may have side effects later. Read the “Side Effects” section of this resource for more information. People who have had RAI therapy may have a slightly increased risk of developing leukemia,stomach cancer, and salivary gland cancerin the future.
In the body, thyroid hormone and thyroglobulin are the only molecules that require iodine. Therefore, all ingested iodine goes only to the thyroid gland through the Na+/I- symporter. If iodine is tagged with radioactivity (I-131), beta particles will destroy the local tissues in the hyperactive adenomas. Adjacent normal tissues can also be destroyed by collateral damage. Radioiodine can be administered subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or through the mouth.
Precautions after treatment
If you were told to stop taking your thyroid medications, start taking them again the day after your treatment as instructed by your doctor. Keep drinking lots of liquids for 2 to 3 days after your treatment, at least 1 cup per hour. You can restart your normal diet 24 hours after your treatment unless you’re given other instructions by your doctor. You’ll need to have another scan 3 to 5 days after your treatment.
Radioactive iodine therapy is a radiopharmaceutical. It involves the use of radioactive isotopes — in this case, Iodine-131 (I-131) — to diagnose or treat disease. Donate Today Your gift will help support our mission to end cancer and make a difference in the lives of our patients. If you are ready to make an appointment, select a button on the right. If you have questions about MD Anderson’s appointment process, our information page may be the best place to start. While we read all feedback, we cannot answer any questions.
What Precautions Should I Take After RAI Therapy?
Your doctor will tell you when it is safe to have sex and become pregnant. A radiopharmaceutical called Lutathera (Lutetium-177) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors. Log in to our secure, personalized website to manage your care .
Most of the extra radioactive iodine will leave your body through your urine , and smaller amounts will leave your body in your saliva , sweat, and bowel movements . Don’t get pregnant or get your partner pregnant for at least 6 months after getting radioactive iodine therapy, or as long as your doctor tells you to. Use birth control after treatment for at least 6 months after getting this treatment.
How to cope with isolation
If you need to separate yourself, have other household members stay in a hotel instead. You could put other guests at risk when the staff cleans your room. Staying in a hotel puts others, such as the cleaning staff, at risk since they do not know they are handling radioactive material. They will also wash the linens with the other guest linens, potentially putting other guests at risk, too. Shower once a day to rinse away the leftover radioiodine, but make sure to scrub the shower well after using it.
During this time, usually 7–10 days, you shouldn't have children closer than two arms' length for more than a few minutes at a time. But you don't need to stop essential contact such as cuddles, dressing or brief soothing. It's best to avoid kisses for 48 hours after the radioiodine treatment. A common mistake of many patients is to use regular toilet cleaners and/or bleach and think that they are cleaning the radioactive iodine. These decontaminant sprays, which are the very same ones used in nuclear medicine facilities, can be purchased for home use as well. They are commercial grade quality, but designed specifically for your home.
If people have infants or children at home, they must avoid close contact with them for several days following treatment. Low levels of radiation may remain in the body for months following treatment. People may be able to resume most normal activities within 5–7 days following treatment. If you're being treated for hyperthyroidism or thyroid cancer, you may be given radioactive iodine or radioiodine. Any time you’re treated with radioactive material, there’s a certain amount of risk involved.
People may take RAI orally, in the form of capsules or a drink, or through intravenous injections. All the other info told me how to take care of the cooking, cleaning and disposable stuff. % of people told us that this article helped them. "This made me feel a lot more comfortable with the procedure and to keep the rest of the family safe." Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 44,233 times. Often, you will be asked to return your trash bag with the trash in it back to the facility.
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment. Stay at least 3 feet (0.91 m) away from other people at all times.
Then flush the toilet a second time and wipe up any spilled urine with a tissue and flush it away. Preparing for RAI treatment often requires changes in medications. If you are taking the thyroid hormones, liothyronine or thyroxine, also called T3 and T4, you may be asked to stop. Your physician might also put you on a thyroid-stimulating hormone called thyrotropin or TSH.
In humans, the thyroid gland is located ventral to the trachea, with both lobes connected by an isthmus. In cats, there is no isthmus, and thus both lobes are separated and located on both sides of the trachea. It is made of glandular tissue with cells in follicles. Follicles are filled with colloid that incorporates the main storage of thyroid hormones.
Avoid activities where you may be close to others for more than 5 minutes, for example, movie theaters, sporting events and public transportation. Wash your towels, bed linens, underwear, and any clothing stained with urine or sweat. Any additional tests we felt were necessary will be discussed with you prior to submission. Keep the bag out of reach of any pets or children. Also, separate it from the other trash bags in the house. Place all contaminated disposable items in a separate trash bag.
We will also collect a small blood sample to measure the pre-treatment total T4 concentration. For the first 8 hours after RAI treatment, people must remain at least 3 feet from other people. People may need to stay on a low-iodine diet for 48 hours after treatment. People will need to arrange care for infants and young children for the first 2–5 days of treatment or possibly longer. It is particularly important to avoid contact with children and pregnant people, as it is especially harmful to developing children. People need to isolate themselves after RAI treatment to prevent others from radiation exposure.
We can also help you find other free or low-cost resources available. You can help reduce your risk of cancer by making healthy choices like eating right, staying active and not smoking. It’s also important to follow recommended screening guidelines, which can help detect certain cancers early. Do not share kitchen and cooking utensils, bedding, towels and personal items with others. For the first few days stay a distance of at least 6 feet away from others.
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