how long can rai treatment be postponed after thyroid surgery

by Adrien Christiansen DVM Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Usually RAI is done ~6 weeks after surgery - the surgery site needs time to heal first. It can safely be delayed longer in most cases, i.e. to wait for Thyrogen (yes, this is much preferable to going hypo, if you can be patient and wait for it to be available).

If RAI treatment is planned, the start of thyroid hormone therapy may be delayed until the treatment is finished (usually about 6 to 12 weeks after surgery).Sep 20, 2021

Full Answer

Is radioiodine therapy delayed after thyroidectomy due to incomplete response?

May 10, 2012 · theresat858. May 11, 2012 • 1:30 PM. Usually RAI is done ~6 weeks after surgery - the surgery site needs time to heal first. It can safely be delayed longer in most cases, i.e. to wait for Thyrogen (yes, this is much preferable to going hypo, if …

Should all thyroid cancer patients be treated with radioactive iodine?

My endo said that you need 6 weeks to let your thyroid heal after your surgery. Since RAI can affect your immune system they want to be sure that you are completely healed before giving you the RAI. I know that you want it done quickly, I know how bad you want the results of the scan, but rest up and heal, and then deal with the RAI and the scan!

What to expect after radioactive iodine treatment?

Patients were considered “disease-free” if all biochemical and imaging evaluations were negative for evidence of thyroid cancer. The average time from surgery to radioactive iodine therapy was 3 months in Group A and 10.5 months in Group B. Patients in Group B tended to be older and have lower risk cancer than patients in Group A.

When is the best time to give radioactive iodine ablation?

Giving radioactive iodine within 3 months after thyroidectomy results in better responses than delaying therapy beyond 3 months after surgery BACKGROUND Patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer usually have an excellent prognosis. This is due to effective therapies, including surgery and, when needed, radioactive iodine therapy.

How long after surgery can you have Rai?

RAI can be given as early as 4-5 weeks following total thyroidectomy but can be delayed for months or even years following surgery. The papillary thyroid cancer must have the symporter for iodine and take up iodine to be effective.

Is Rai necessary after thyroidectomy?

In the current American Thyroid Association (ATA) Guidelines, radioactive iodine (RAI) is not routinely recommended after thyroidectomy for the low risk patients, but it is considered for ATA intermediate and high risk patients.Jun 19, 2018

When can I do Rai after thyroidectomy?

Giving radioactive iodine within 3 months after thyroidectomy results in better responses than delaying therapy beyond 3 months after surgery. Patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer usually have an excellent prognosis. This is due to effective therapies, including surgery and, when needed, radioactive iodine therapy.

Can you refuse radioactive iodine treatment?

When patients refuse RAI therapy, the harm associated with no treatment (as in thyroid cancer) also must be weighed and communicated to the patients. In many cases of GD, for example, the use of antithyroid medications or surgical subtotal thyroidectomy may provide appropriate therapy without the use of RAI.

How long does RAI stay in your system?

Within 3 weeks, only traces of RAI remain in your body. However, it may take several months for the RAI to have its full effects on any remaining thyroid tissue, both cancerous and non-cancerous.Jan 18, 2017

What are the long term side effects of radioactive iodine?

Possible long term side effects include:

Ability to have children (fertility) Some women may have irregular periods after radioactive iodine treatment. ...
Inflammation of the salivary glands (where spit is made) ...
Tiredness. ...
Dry or watery eyes. ...
Lower levels of blood cells. ...
Lung problems. ...
Second cancers.

May 24, 2021

How long do you have to stay isolated after radioactive iodine?

You are also required to self isolate for 7 days after your radioiodine treatment in order to minimise the risk of contracting COVID-19 whilst there is still a large amount of radioactivity in your body. A small proportion of people with COVID-19 may become very unwell and require admission to hospital.

How long is isolation after radioactive iodine?

Sleep alone for 7 days unless otherwise instructed by your doctor. Avoid kissing and physical contact with others, and maintain a distance of at least 3 feet from women who are pregnant and children under 18 years old.

How long is isolated after radioactive iodine?

Depending on state regulations, patients may have to stay isolated in the hospital for about 24 hours to avoid exposing other people to radiation, especially if there are young children living in the same home.

Can hyperthyroidism return after radioactive iodine?

Once hypothyroidism has been achieved, it is usually irreversible with the patient requiring lifelong thyroid replacement. Recurrence of hyperthyroidism after RAI therapy may be due to inadequate dosing or early Marine Lenhart syndrome.Sep 12, 2017

Does radioactive iodine shorten your life?

Quality of life is worse at 6-10 years after radioactive iodine therapy of Graves' disease compared with treatment with antithyroid drugs or surgery. Quality of life is worse at 6-10 years after radioactive iodine therapy of Graves' disease compared with treatment with antithyroid drugs or surgery.

Can radioactive iodine cause other cancers?

This new analysis concluded that radioactive iodine was associated with an increased risk for mortality from overall cancer, breast cancer, and non-breast solid cancers.Jan 18, 2022

What is the best treatment for thyroid cancer?

The first treatment option for thyroid cancer is surgical removal of the thyroid (thyroidectomy). Radioactive iodine therapy is recommended to many patients with thyroid cancer, especially those at increased risk for cancer recurrence after surgery.

Why do we need radioactive iodine?

Radioactive iodine initially is given to destroy any residual thyroid cancer cells left behind after surgery. Once routine in all thyroid cancer patients, newer guidelines by the American Thyroid Association have recommended more limited use of radioactive iodine therapy.

What is the purpose of iodine 131?

I-131 is the destructive form used to destroy thyroid tissue in the treatment of thyroid cancer and with an overactive thyroid. I-123 is the non-destructive form that does not damage the thyroid and is used in scans to take pictures of the thyroid (Thyroid Scan) or to take pictures of the whole body to look for thyroid cancer (Whole Body Scan).

Does radioactive iodine therapy affect thyroid cancer?

This study suggests that the timing of radioactive iodine therapy relative to thyroidectomy did not alter disease outcomes in thyroid cancer. This finding allows for more flexibility in timing when scheduling radioactive iodine therapy following thyroidectomy and, thus, patients can have more input on this timing relative to their life schedule.

How long does it take for a RAI to fade?

The good news is that this radioactivity does fade over a short period of time (usually 5 to 7 days) but the bad news is that you need to stay under certain precautions during this time.

What happens if your thyroid is destroyed?

Once your thyroid is destroyed, it will no longer work exactly as it used to.

Why do people get radioactive iodine?

Most people who get radioactive iodine treatment do so because they are considered to be hyperthyroid ( sometimes people get RAI for thyroid cancer (5) but most people get it for hyperthyroidism).

What is radioactive iodine used for?

Radioactive iodine is a procedure that is often used to treat hyperthyroidism.

How long does iodine affect sperm count?

Important to men is the fact that radioactive iodine can cause short-term reductions in sperm count for up to 2 years after your procedure (8).

How long can you live after iodine treatment?

You can expect to live a fairly normal life after radioactive iodine treatment but your life will probably not be exactly as it was before your procedure. For most people, this means that you can expect to live at 80-90% of your 'normal'.

What happens if you destroy your thyroid gland?

And, if you destroy your thyroid gland, it turns out that that may have consequences on your metabolism. Anectodally, you've probably already heard stories about people gaining weight after their procedure.

Can you tell if you have RAI surgery?

Those people who have received RAI or thyroid surgery will no doubt want to know how they can tell if they will respond to natural treatment methods. As for whether or not they can have their thyroid health restored back to normal, this honestly is something that nobody can predict.

Can you predict if you have thyroid surgery?

However, even though there is no way to predict whether someone who has received thyroid surgery or RAI will respond to natural treatment methods, through certain tests a natural endocrine doctor can have a pretty good idea as to whether or not such a person will receive some positive benefits.

Does RAI cause thyroid problems?

Many assume that RAI completely obliterates the thyroid gland, making it impossible to produce a sufficient amount of thyroid hormone. Many times this is true, as there are times when the thyroid gland has sustained too much damage, and therefore can’t be restored back to normal upon following a natural treatment protocol.

Can you get your thyroid back after a thyroidectomy?

Those who have had a complete thyroidectomy will of course be unable to completely restore their thyroid health back to normal, but can usually still benefit from a natural treatment protocol. But many people who have received radioactive iodine or thyroid surgery aren’t aware that there still might be hope.

Can Graves disease cause hyperthyroidism?

For example, a person who had Graves’ Disease and received RAI might no longer have hyperthyroid symptoms, but the compromised immune system was most likely never addressed.

Can thyroid health be restored after thyroidectomy?

But even if your thyroid health can’t be restored back to normal, by correcting any adrenal issues, nutritional deficiencies, and/or hormone imbalances, ...

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