what are symptoms of radioactive iodine treatment

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What are the risks of radioactive iodine therapy?

Risks and Side Effects of Radioactive Iodine Treatment Depending on the dose used in the treatment, a hospital stay in a special isolation room for a few days may be required to prevent others from being exposed to the radiation. Short-Term Side Effects of RAI Treatment Include: Neck tenderness and swelling Nausea and vomiting

What are the long term effects of radioactive iodine?

After radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid cancer

• Thyroid medicine after radioactive iodine treatment. You may have stopped taking your thyroid hormone tablets in preparation for your treatment. ...
• Radiation safety precautions. ...
• Travelling after radioactive iodine treatment. ...
• Possible short term side effects. ...
• Possible long term side effects
• Further radioactive iodine treatments. ...

What are the possible side effects from radioiodine?

What are the possible side effects from radioiodine?

• dry mouth
• tender or swollen saliva glands
• taste changes
• sore throat
• altered sensations around your thyroidectomy scar
• swelling of your thyroid area if a significant amount of thyroid tissue is present
• feeling sick (this is uncommon)

What to expect after radioactive 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 are the side effects of taking radioactive iodine?

What are the side effects of radioactive iodine?Neck tenderness and swelling.Nausea.Swollen salivary glands.Loss of taste or taste change.Dry mouth/insufficient salivary production.Dry eyes.Excessive tearing from the eyes.

What is the most common complication of radioiodine therapy?

The most common adverse reaction to medical therapy was a rash in 8 patients, followed by neutropaenia (neutrophils < 1.0 × 109/L) in 6 patients. LFT derangement was reported in 3 patients taking PTU and 1 patient taking carbimazole.

What happens when you have radioactive iodine treatment?

Radioactive iodine enters your bloodstream and is taken up by any thyroid- like cells. The radioactivity destroys the cancer cells. The radioactive iodine gives off radiation nearby and destroys the cancer cells over time.

Does radioactive iodine treatment make you feel sick?

Short-term side effects of RAI treatment may include: Neck tenderness and swelling. Nausea and vomiting. Swelling and tenderness of the salivary glands.

Does radioactive iodine affect immune system?

Treatment of Graves' disease patients with radioactive iodide (RAI) can induce two therapeutically important alterations in immune response to thyroid antigens. These may be characterized as a first response and a second phase response.

Will I gain weight after radioactive iodine treatment?

Treatment of hyperthyroidism with RAI or anti-thyroid medications is associated with an increased risk of gaining weight and even developing obesity. This risk is slightly higher with RAI therapy compared to medications.

How long does it take for radioactive iodine to leave your body?

The radioiodine from your treatment will temporarily remain in your body. Most of the radioiodine not taken up by your thyroid gland will be eliminated within the first (2) two days after treatment. Radioiodine leaves your body primarily by your urine. Very small amounts may leave in your saliva, sweat, or feces.

Can radioactive iodine cause other cancers?

Patients treated with radioactive iodine also have an increased risk of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), stomach cancer, and salivary gland cancer.

What is the radiation used for thyroid cancer?

The radiation dose used here is much stronger than the one used in radioiodine scans, which are described in Tests for Thyroid Cancer. This treatment can be used to ablate (destroy) any thyroid tissue not removed by surgery or to treat some types of thyroid cancer that have spread to lymph nodes and other parts of the body.

How long after radiation therapy can you go home?

Depending on the dose of radioiodine used and where you are being treated, you might need to be in the hospital for a few days after treatment, staying in a special isolation room to prevent others from being exposed to radiation. Some people may not need to be hospitalized. Once you are allowed to go home after treatment, you will be given instructions on how to protect others from radiation exposure and how long you need to take these precautions. These instructions may vary slightly by treatment center. Be sure you understand the instructions before you leave the hospital.

How long should I take thyrotropin before RAI?

Another way is to get an injection (shot) of thyrotropin (Thyrogen), which can make withholding thyroid hormone for a long period of time unnecessary. This drug is given daily for 2 days, followed by RAI on the 3 rd day. Most doctors also recommend that you follow a low iodine diet for 1 or 2 weeks before treatment.

How to treat RAI?

For RAI therapy to be most effective, you must have a high level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH or thyrotropin) in the blood. This hormone is what makes thyroid tissue (and cancer cells) take up radioactive iodine. If your thyroid has been removed, there are a couple of ways to raise TSH levels before being treated with RAI: 1 One way is to stop taking thyroid hormone pills for several weeks. This causes very low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism), which makes the pituitary gland to release more TSH. This intentional hypothyroidism is temporary, but it often causes symptoms like tiredness, depression, weight gain, constipation, muscle aches, and reduced concentration. 2 Another way is to get an injection (shot) of thyrotropin (Thyrogen), which can make withholding thyroid hormone for a long period of time unnecessary. This drug is given daily for 2 days, followed by RAI on the 3 rd day.

Can you use rai for thyroid cancer?

Discuss your risks and benefits of RAI therapy with your doctor. Radioactive iodine therapy cannot be used to treat anaplastic (undifferentiated) and medullary thyroid carcinomas because these types of cancer do not take up iodine.

Can radiation cause irregular periods?

Radioactive iodine may also affect a woman’ s ovaries, and some women may have irregular periods for up to a year after treatment.

Does radioactive iodine help with thyroid cancer?

Radioactive iodine therapy helps people live longer if they have papillary or follicular thyroid cancer (differentiated thyroid cancer) that has spread to the neck or other body parts, and it is now standard practice in such cases. But the benefits of RAI therapy are less clear for people with small cancers of the thyroid gland ...

How to prepare for radioactive iodine treatment?

You can prepare for a radioactive iodine treatment by: Abstaining from sex or using effective birth control to avoid pregnancy before and for up to a year after treatment.

What is radioactive iodine used for?

Your doctor, typically an endocrinologist, may recommend radioactive iodine treatment to treat thyroid cancer or an overactive thyroid gland, also called hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease.

What is the function of the thyroid?

The thyroid efficiently absorbs and concentrates iodine from foods that contain iodine, such as iodized salt, as well as radioactive iodine. Once in the thyroid, radioactive iodine destroys thyroid tissue and thyroid cancer cells.

What type of doctor uses radioactive iodine?

The following types of doctors determine the type and dose of oral radioactive iodine used in treatments: Nuclear medicine doctors specialize in using radioactive materials to diagnose disease and guide treatment plans. Nuclear radiologists specialize in using imaging technologies and radioactive materials to diagnose and treat disease.

What is the specialty of a nuclear oncologist?

Nuclear radiologists specialize in using imaging technologies and radioactive materials to diagnose and treat disease. Radiation oncologists specialize in treating cancer and related diseases with radiation. Oncologists specialize in diagnosing, treating and preventing cancer. Pediatric hematologist-oncologists specialize in researching, ...

What is the treatment for thyroid cancer?

Chemotherapy uses medications to slow or stop the growth of thyroid cancer cells. External radiation therapy uses X-ray beams to kill thyroid cancer cells. Surgery removes an overactive thyroid gland.

How long do you have to stay in a hospital for radiation?

You may need to stay in a special room in the hospital for a few days to avoid exposing others to radiation. This will depend on the dose of radioactive iodine and other factors. You will need to take special precautions at home for a short time to protect others from radiation exposure.

How long before taking RAI can you stop taking thyroid pills?

A high level of TSH is needed for RAI treatment to be effective. This is why your doctor may instruct you to stop taking your thyroid pills 4-6 weeks before starting RAI treatment. Temporarily stopping your thyroid pills may cause symptoms of hypothyroidism (low thyroid levels).

How many times do you need to get thyrogen before RAI?

You need to visit your healthcare provider twice to receive Thyrogen® injections in the 2 days before starting RAI. Thyrogen® is associated with mild side effects, if any. Thyrogen® is not covered in all provinces, meaning you may have to pay out of pocket or apply though your private health insurance, if you have it.

What is RAI treatment?

Radioactive Iodine treatment (RAI) is a common way to treat differentiated forms of thyroid cancer ( papillary & follicular ). It’s not the type of radiation you may think of when you think of cancer treatment. RAI is taken by pill – once swallowed, the radioactive iodine gets to work by destroying cancer cells.

How long does it take for a RAI to affect taste?

Almost all patients treated with RAI have an altered sense of taste for the first few days or weeks (e.g. food tastes like “Styrofoam”). Infrequently, the effect lasts longer. In some cases, patients experience RAI damage to their salivary glands and/or tear ducts (30%). For most people, the effects are temporary.

Does RAI cause swelling?

Some may require treatment from specialists in corresponding fields of medicine. Occasionally, months later, patients feel some after-effects of RAI as soreness or swelling in glands (face or neck).

Can you take thyrogen before RAI?

As an alternative to ‘going hypo’, patients can receive a drug called Thyrogen® before RAI treatment. Thyrogen® raises TSH levels – so patients can continue taking their daily thyroid pills. So, there is no risk of having the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

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'.

How long does radioactive 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). This may or may not be important to you based on your age, your gender, and whether or not fertility is something you are interested in but, again, it's worth knowing about.

How to avoid weight gain after RAI?

Your best bet to AVOID weight gain after RAI is to go into your procedure with a normal weight and to maintain a healthy lifestyle both before and after. Just realize that you will always be in a 'sensitive' category and you will be more likely to gain weight compared to people with their thyroid intact. #3.

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 take a thyroid pill every day?

There's no way for doctors to give you a pill once a day and for that pill to perform the exact same function that your thyroid gland does every minute of every day. Because of this, people may experience symptoms which may lead them to want to restore whatever thyroid function they can.

Can beta cells take up iodine?

But you probably at least know a little bit about RAI or you wouldn't be here.

Can you gain weight after radioactive iodine treatment?

You may gain weight. This is probably not what you want to hear, especially if this is a procedure that is necessary for your health, but it's still important to know about it. You may gain weight after you undergo radioactive iodine treatment.

How long after radioactive iodine treatment can you take thyroid medicine?

Your nurse will tell you when you should start to take them again. Usually, this is 2 to 3 days after your treatment.

How long after iodine treatment should you follow safety precautions?

You will need to follow safety precautions for a few days after your radioactive iodine treatment. This is to protect others from the radiation. The advice about precautions varies for different people and for different hospitals. Talk to your doctor or specialist nurse.

How long after iodine treatment can you go home?

After radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid cancer. Having radioactive iodine treatment means you will be radioactive for several days afterwards. You will be able to go home from hospital when the radiation level in your body is at a safe level.

How long does it take for thyroxine to work?

Usually, this is 2 to 3 days after your treatment. You will need to take thyroxine tablets to replace the hormones that your thyroid gland normally makes. Your doctors will want to keep your thyroid hormones at a slightly higher level than you would normally need.

How to get rid of radiation in your body?

For a few weeks you will need to use your own towel and keep your cutlery and plates away from others until washed. Continue to flush the toilet twice and wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet.

How to avoid radiation?

If you live or work with other people, you will need to keep a distance from them. Avoid standing or sitting close to them. This stops them from getting radiation from you.

Can radioactive iodine cause neck pain?

This is more common if you still had a large part of your thyroid gland when you have radioactive iodine treatment. Some people also feel flushed. Rarely, people can feel pain in their neck.