what to expect with radioactive iodine treatment

Full Answer

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 side effects of radioactive iodine therapy?

Temporary side effects of RAI may include:

• 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 to expect after radiation therapy?

the heart. Fatigue: The most common side effect from any type of radiation therapy. This can last for weeks or months following treatment. Bowel problems: The rectum can be irritated resulting in pain, burning, diarrhea, and bleeding in some cases, although serious complications are not common.

What can you not do after radioactive iodine treatment?

Do not share cups, glasses, plates or eating utensils. Wash items promptly after using. Other people may use items after they are washed. Do not share towels or washcloths.

How long do you stay in the hospital after radioactive iodine treatment?

Most people are in the hospital for 1 night. Your doctor will tell you if you need to stay longer. You'll have another whole-body scan several days after your treatment. This helps your doctor see where the dose of radioactive iodine was taken up in your body.

How long does radioactive iodine treatment take to work?

The effect of this treatment on the thyroid gland usually takes between one and three months to develop. Maximum benefit occurs three to six months after treatment. Usually, a single dose is successful in treating hyperthyroidism.

Where do you stay after radioactive iodine treatment?

The iodine-131 will wash out in the laundry....To decrease the radiation dose to others:You should sleep in a separate bed. ... Remain in your home for the first four days.Do not hold young children or spend much time near a pregnant woman.Family members should stay about six feet or more from you.More items...•

How will I feel after radioactive iodine?

Some people may have a feeling of tightness or swelling in their neck for a few days after treatment. 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.

Can someone drive me home after radioactive iodine treatment?

Avoid public transportation for the first day following treatment. Limit personal automobile travel with others to only a few hours per day for the first two days following treatment. Keep as much distance as possible between you and other passengers.

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.

Do you lose your hair with radioactive iodine treatment?

Radioiodine does not cause hair loss.

Do you have to isolate after radiation?

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 do you prepare for radioactive iodine?

You might need to have a low iodine diet for a few weeks before you have your treatment. This prepares the thyroid cells so that they can absorb the radioactive iodine. All food and drink contains some iodine. A low iodine diet means that you should avoid foods that have a high level of iodine in them.

Can you be around others after radiation?

The radiation travels a very short distance, so the effects are mostly to the tumor. However, you may have to limit contact with other people for up to one week after treatment. It is especially important to avoid close contact with children and women who are pregnant.

What are the side effects of 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.

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.

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 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 survive after RAI?

You can obviously survive after RAI (otherwise they wouldn't do the procedure) but I want to teach you how to thrive afterward. And to key to getting there is to understand what happens to your body after this procedure and how it influences your thyroid function.

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.

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 does it take for thyroid to stop taking up radioactive iodine?

If you have too much iodine in your diet, it can stop the thyroid cells from taking up the radioactive iodine. Continue to follow this diet for 24 hours after your treatment is completed, or as instructed by your doctor. Read the resource for more information.

How long after radioactive iodine therapy can you get pregnant?

Pregnancy and radioactive iodine therapy. 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.

What is the name of the service that takes up thyroid cells?

If you do, tell your doctor in Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service (MITS) before your treatment. This is sometimes called the Nuclear Medicine service. Radioactive iodine enters your bloodstream and is taken up by any thyroid- like cells. The radioactivity destroys the cancer cells.

How to treat thyrotropin alfa?

Your treatment plan will follow these steps that will take place over a few days: 1. On the first day, you’ll have blood tests. After those tests, you’ll see your doctor and get a thyrotropin alfa (Thyrogen ®) injection (shot) to help you get ready for your treatment.

Where does radioactive iodine leave the body?

Most of the extra radioactive iodine will leave your body through your urine (pee), and smaller amounts will leave your body in your saliva (spit), sweat, and bowel movements (poop).

How long does it take for thyroid pain to go away?

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. Discomfort in your neck. This can happen during the first 2 to 3 weeks after your treatment, but it depends on the amount of thyroid tissue still in your neck.

Why does my mouth dry out after iodine?

Dry mouth. This is also caused by irritation or damage to your salivary glands. Dry mouth may happen if you’re taking a higher dose of radioactive iodine. Dry mouth can happen right after treatment, or it may happen for several months to a year after treatment.

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 ...

What is radioactive iodine?

Radioactive iodine (often abbreviated RAI) is a therapy used to treat hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. In this procedure, you are intentionally given Iodide, I-131, which emits radiation. Your body then takes up this radioactive iodine into your thyroid gland where the radiation proceeds to destroy thyroid gland tissue.

How much iodine does the thyroid gland store?

In addition, your thyroid gland stores up to 15-20 grams of iodine as a reservoir for thyroid hormone production (1) (stores that it can draw upon when necessary). RAI takes advantage of this storage capacity of your thyroid gland.

What is the treatment for thyroid cancer?

The baseline treatment recommended for thyroid cancer is thyroidectomy or complete thyroid removal. This procedure allows for nearly the complete ...

Is RAI a definitive treatment?

It's definitive because after the procedure your thyroid gland will no longer function optimally and your hyperthyroidism will have been treated .

Is rai a barbaric treatment?

As you might suspect, destroying your gland with radioactive iodine is associated with some side effects and is not without risk (but more on that later). It may sound like a barbaric treatment, but it has been around since ...

Can you remove 100% of thyroid tissue?

But what you may not realize is that it is nearly impossible to remove 100% of the thyroid gland tissue even with thyroidectomy . This leaves a small percentage of thyroid gland tissue in the body. This remaining thyroid gland tissue slightly increases the risk of recurrence of thyroid cancer (3).

Is it safe to use rai?

For the most part, if done correctly and if proper precautions are taken after the procedure , yes it is safe. There are some groups of people who should NOT use RAI, however, and this group includes pregnant women, women who are breastfeeding and patients who are unstable or in a thyroid storm.

What is iodine used for?

Iodine, in the form of iodide, is made into two radioactive forms of iodine that are commonly used in patients with thyroid diseases: I-123 ( harmless to thyroid cells) and I-131 ( destroys thyroid cells ). The radiation emitted by each of these forms of iodine can be detected from outside the patient to gain information about thyroid function ...

Why is iodine important for the thyroid gland?

Iodine is essential for proper function of the thyroid gland, which use s it to make the thyroid hormones. The thyroid is equipped with an active system or “pump” for moving iodine into its cells, where it is concentrated as iodide. The thyroid gland is the only tissue in the body that takes up and holds onto iodine.

What is the I-123 isotope used for?

I-123 is the usual isotope used to take pictures and determine the activity of the intact thyroid gland ( Thyroid Scan and Radioactive Iodine Uptake, RAIU ), since it is harmless to thyroid cells. No special radiation precautions are necessary after a thyroid scan or RAIU using I-123. I-131 can also be used to take pictures of the thyroid gland, ...

Is rai safe for X-rays?

RAI is safe to use in individuals who have had allergic reactions to seafood or X-ray contrast agents, since the reaction is to the compound containing io dine, not the iodine itself. RAI is given by mouth in pill or liquid form.

When can you stop breast feeding after I-131?

This protects the baby who would otherwise receive radioactive milk and the mother’s breasts which concentrate RAI. Breastfeeding must be stopped at least 6 weeks before administration of I-131 treatment and should not be restarted after administration of RAI, but can be safely done after future pregnancies.

Can RAI cause thyroid cancer?

Hypothyroidism is a common side effect of RAI for hyperthyroidism and always seen after RAI for thyroid cancer. This is usually easily treated with thyroid hormone replacement (see Hypothyroidism brochure ). Some studies suggest a slight increase in thyroid cancers may be seen after RAI treatment for hyperthyroidism.

General recommendations

For a period of time, you will need to keep your distance from other people, especially young children and pregnant women.

Pregnancy and children

Your doctor will tell you when it is safe to have sex and become pregnant.

Travel

Don't take public transportation. If you are able, it's best to drive yourself.