What are the long term side effects of radioactive iodine?
Long term side effects of radioactive iodine treatment vary depending on:
- your age
- other medical conditions
- your dose of radioactive iodine
How much does radioactive iodine treatment for cats cost?
The cost of any treatment for feline hyperthyroidism is significant. The cost for radio iodine therapy is generally a total fee of $1500- $1550, depending on the I131 dosage required for your cat's treatment. This includes the radio iodine itself, the cost of hospitalization, food, litter, and monitoring.
How much does radioactive iodine therapy cost?
Thyroid cancer treatment typically is covered by health insurance, although some plans may not cover certain drugs or treatments. For patients without health insurance, thyroid cancer treatment typically costs from about $20,000-$40,000 for surgery and up to $4,000 for radioactive iodine treatment, which is often recommended for thyroid cancer.
How do you clean after radioactive iodine treatment?
- Avoiding physical contact with other members of the household, including sleeping alone
- Flushing your toilet twice after every use
- Washing your hands frequently with decontamination soap
- Avoiding cooking for others
- Using plastic gloves to cook
- Keeping all clothing and linens separate from the rest of the household
Can I touch my cat after radioactive iodine treatment?
Your cat may be slightly woozy when you pick them up. For the first two weeks after I-131: Keep your cat indoors or supervised when outside to prevent contact with other people. Limit close contact (closer than 1 foot) to one hour per day.
Can my cat be around other cats after radioactive iodine treatment?
GUIDELINES FOR CAT OWNERS AFTER RADIOIODINE THERAPY. Cats treated with radioiodine (I-131) have a low level of radioactivity following discharge from the hospital. This level is sufficiently low that complete isolation of the cat from people is not required.
How long does radioactive iodine stay in cat?
What happens after my cat is released from the hospital? The radioiodine is eliminated in urine and feces. By 14 days after treatment, the radioactivity will have decayed to a very low level.
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 long to stay away from pets after radioactive iodine?
Here are some ways to minimize radiation risks to other people (and pets) after you have had RAI treatment: Stay at least six feet away from other people, including members of the public, family members, and co-workers, for three to 11 days.
How do you dispose of radioactive cat litter?
Store waste in a well-ventilated space away from your primary living areas, and hold for an additional 2 weeks so natural decay will reduce radioactivity to background levels. Then the litter may be disposed with the normal trash.
Can you be around pets after radioactive iodine?
It is safe to be around your cats after you are treated with radioiodine therapy because even if they are in your lap, the exposure is low. People do sweat out the radioiodine, but if you wash your hands regularly, that is very effective in washing away the small amount of contamination on your hands.
What are the long term side effects of radioactive iodine for cats?
There are almost no side effects from radioiodine treatment. When your cat returns home, there may be a readjustment period while your cat's thyroid returns to normal function. Your cat may be quieter and less active . This is due to the metabolic rate returning to normal.
What is the life expectancy of a cat with hyperthyroidism?
The median survival times reported are 25 (iodine 131 treatment),1 24 (radioiodine treatment),2 and 48 months (iodine 131 treatment),3 with a more recent paper citing 14 months (carbimazole or methimazole treatment alone or in combination with thyroidectomy).
How expensive is radioactive iodine treatment for cats?
$1500- $1550The cost for radio iodine therapy is generally a total fee of $1500- $1550, depending on the I131 dosage required for your cat's treatment. This includes the radio iodine itself, the cost of hospitalization, food, litter, and monitoring. This is comparable to the cost of surgical removal.
Can you go home after radiation treatment?
You may be able to go home shortly after the procedure. Depending on the area treated, you may receive several treatments over a number of days or weeks. Most patients feel little discomfort during brachytherapy. If the radioactive source is held in place with an applicator, you may feel discomfort from the applicator.
Is radioactive iodine treatment painful?
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.
What is the treatment for iodine in cats?
Radioactive Iodine Treatment (I-131) For Cats. Radioactive iodine (radioiodine or I-131) is used in the treatment of hyperthyroidism which is the most common endocrine (hormonal) disorder to affect cats. It is estimated that 10% of cats over ten of cats over the age of ten will develop the disease. The disease is caused by a benign, ...
How long before radioactive iodine treatment can cats stop methimazole?
Stop medications and/or special diets: The cat will stop methimazole (Tapazole) or carbimazole or Hills Y/D (a prescription diet low in iodine) 7-10 days before radioactive iodine treatment.
What is the cause of cardiac thyrotoxicosis in cats?
An increase in levels of thyroid hormones speeds up the cat’s metabolism ( hypermetabolic state) which leads to a hyperdynamic cardiovascular state in which the heart beats faster which eventually causes secondary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. Collectively called cardiac thyrotoxicosis. These are late manifestations of hyperthyroidism which highlight the importance of early diagnosis and bi-annual health checks in cats over the age of 7.
How does radioactive treatment work for cats?
How does radioactive treatment work? The thyroid gland uses iodine-which is in many types of food to make the thyroid hormones. Cats with hyperthyroidism have abnormal and hyperactive thyroid tissue as well as atrophied healthy thyroid tissue. I-131 is a radioactive form of iodine, which the diseased thyroid takes up.
How to treat hyperthyroidism in cats?
There are several treatment options for cats with hyperthyroidism which include: Prescription diet. Hills y/d is low in iodine, which is required by the thyroid gland to produce its hormones, low iodene=reduced hormone production. It can take a few weeks for this food to take effect. Medications.
How long does it take for thyroid to return to normal in cats?
In most cases, thyroid levels should return to normal within a week, although this may take longer in cats with reduced kidney function.
Which drug blocks the synthesis of thyroid hormones?
Methimazole or carbimazole which block the synthesis of thyroid hormones.
What happens if a cat doesn't take up thyroid?
What is not taken up by the thyroid will be present in the cat's bodily fluids and will primarily be voided in the cat's urine (in those first four days at the vet hospital). What is taken up by the thyroid will be released slowly over the next days/weeks to the other bodily fluids which is why they have the precautions that you describe.
How to control radiation exposure?
The three ways that we control exposures to external sources of radiation are time, distance, and shielding. Reduce the time near a source, increase the distance from the source, or use some sort of radiation absorbing shielding between you and the source of radiation and you will reduce your radiation dose .
Why is my cat being separated for 4 days?
One of the reasons the cat was held for four days was to allow for much of the radioactive 131 I to be excreted in urine so that the amount of external radiation exposure is significantly reduced.
Is cat litter radioactive?
Further, the litter will be radioactive as most of the radioactive iodine will be excreted via this route. I am certain that your veterinarian probably told you to take care when handling the litter and to wash your hands thoroughly after handling litter, the cat, and items that the cat came into contact with.
Does a cat have radioactive iodine?
Now let's deal with the issue of radioactive iodine released by the cat, which I believe is actually the bigger concern. All bodily fluids in the cat will have trace amounts of radioactive material within them, but it will be most prevalent within the urine.
Does iodine make cats drool?
I have a cat also and I know when she is happy and purring while sitting on my lap getting strokes, she drools. In a cat treated with radioactive iodine, the drool will contain radioactive materials. Cats also sweat through their paws and the sweat will have trace amounts of radioactive iodine.
Does 131 I cause thyroid issues?
What they are trying to prevent is the intake (ingestion, etc.) of the radioactive iodine into your body because, just like the cat, any 131 I intake you have will result in an uptake by your thyroid and in larger quantities could result in significant thyroid dose.
Where to administer radioactive iodine?
The protocol for administering radioactive iodine at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center is by the subcutaneous route (under the skin). The radioactive iodine is administered as a single injection under the skin in the region of the inner thigh. Because of the nature of the injection, we generally will administer a small amount ...
Why is radioiodine not concentrated in thyroid tissue?
Therefore, the radioiodine is concentrated by the hyperactive, abnormal thyroid tissue. Because the normal thyroid tissue becomes atrophied (decreased in size and ability to function) in the hyperthyroid patient , the normal thyroid tissue itself should not concentrate the radioiodine.
Why do cats stay in the hospital longer with kidney disease?
Due to the removal of iodine through the kidneys, cats with preexisting kidney disease may have to stay longer because the radioiodine may not be removed from the body as quickly. The patient will be monitored at regular intervals to determine when they are able to be released.
How long after radioiodine therapy can you have high thyroid?
Patients that continue to have high levels of thyroid hormones by 3 months after the radioiodine therapy probably will require re-treatment. This has only been noted in approximately 5% of cases.
How long does a cat stay in the hospital?
The hospitalization period varies from cat to cat, but is generally - between 5-8 days. The effective half-life of the radioiodine (decay of radioactivity) can be quite variable depending upon each cat’s ability to excrete via the kidneys and the amount of time the radioiodine is bound to the thyroid. Due to the removal of iodine through the kidneys, cats with preexisting kidney disease may have to stay longer because the radioiodine may not be removed from the body as quickly. The patient will be monitored at regular intervals to determine when they are able to be released. The patient can be released from the hospital once the exposure rate from the radioactivity in the body reaches a level that is deemed to be safe to the general public (i.e.: owners), which has been established by the University and the Minnesota Department of Health.
What is the most common hormonal disease in cats?
Hyperthyroidism may be the single most commonly diagnosed hormonal disease in cats next to diabetes. It is generally a disease of older cats with an average age around 9-10+ years, but can be seen in cats as young as 5 years of age. In most cases, the disease is caused by a growth of abnormal, non-cancerous cells which secrete thyroid hormones in ...
How do you know if your cat has hyperthyroidism?
If left untreated, a hyperthyroid cat can exhibit many, if not all, of the following signs: extreme weight loss, excessive appetite in most cases, but decreased appetite in some, muscle weakness, heart disease (in crease in the size of the heart, increased rate, changes in heart rhythm, cardiac arrest), intolerance to stress, and eventually death.
How long does it take for a cat to respond to radio iodine?
Their hyperthyroidism won’t come back, and they don’t need ongoing medication. Most cats respond to treatment within weeks, although some take up to 6 months to gain the full benefit. However, that may not be the case in a very small number of cats.
How to take a cat home?
What about taking your cat home? 1 For the homeward journey, we’ll use Feliway Transport or Pet Remedy ahead of your discharge appointment. We can also starve your cat if it’s likely to get car sick; just let us know. 2 Please don’t bring children with you to collect your cat, and if you are (or could be) pregnant, please arrange for someone else to come on your behalf. 3 Once at home, your cat can come into contact other pets (we have guidelines for this), and your treated cat’s moulting hair is not itself radioactive unless contaminated with urine or faeces.
How to keep kids away from cats?
Keep young children well away from your cat. Use separate rooms, and possibly door locks.
Can cats have thyroid cancer?
However, a very small proportion still won’t respond, and we wouldn’t normally offer a third treatment. These cats may have a cancerous thyroid tumour, and would need significantly higher doses of radio-iodine before they would respond.
Can you bring children to collect a cat?
Please don’t bring children with you to collect your cat, and if you are (or could be) pregnant, please arrange for someone else to come on your behalf.
Can cats be hypothyroid?
Some cats are very sensitive to radio-iodine, and may go the other way – becoming hypo thyroid, where thyroid hormone levels are too low. This usually self-corrects in time. Some will remain hypothyroid with no apparent ill-effects, but around 2% will develop clinical signs such as weight gain, coat changes, personality changes and perhaps excessive drinking. Hypothyroidism is easily treatable.
What percentage of radioiodine is excreted in cats?
In cats > 95% of the radioiodine is excreted in the urine. Hence for a transient period following radioiodine therapy, the patient's urine contains excreted radioiodine which will emit beta particles as it continues to decay.
How long should a pregnant woman stay away from a hyperthyroid cat?
Because the risk from exposure to radiation in children is generally considered greater than the risk from the same exposure in adults [7], radiation precautions for children and pregnant women are more restrictive than for adults.The release instructions advising clients of hyperthyroid cats being discharged following radioiodine therapy at AVMI advise that pregnant women and children (defined as individuals less than 18 years of age) avoid contact (defined as a proximity of less than 6 feet) with the patient for a period of 12 days following discharge. At the time of discharge, exposure levels measured at 6 feet from the patient are virtually indistinguishable from background levels. Hence additional separation between the patient and children are unnecessary.
What are the complications of radioiodine therapy?
These complications include cerebrovascular events (i.e., strokes) and the premature exacerbation of pre-existing kidney disease. Luckily these risks will diminish in time following successful radioiodine therapy and a return to a persistently normal thyroid level.
What is the risk of radioiodine?
1.) Risk to the patient: The radioiodine (I -131) used to treat thyroid disease in people and animals emits both gamma rays and beta particles. The beta particles, which are much more potent forms of radiation, travel an average distance of less than 1 mm. Because of the short distances they travel they never exit the patient ...
How long does it take for a cat to show signs of hyperthyroidism?
Cats may also continue to show signs of hyperthyroidism, including vomiting and diarrhea, for 3-4 weeks after the radioiodine therapy as the disease continues to resolve. The risk to these cats is the simple fact that many cats in the age range when cats develop hyperthyroidism (8+ years) also develop other diseases.
Why do cats never exit the patient?
Because of the short distances they travel they never exit the patient and as a result no one other than the patient is at risk from exposure to the beta particles unless they internalized the radioiodine excreted by the patient. In cats > 95% of the radioiodine is excreted in the urine.
Can you put radioactive iodine in your cat's urine?
The good news is that virtually every client will already take steps to avoid this, even when radioactive iodine in their cat's urine is not the motivation.
How long does a cat stay radioactive after a shot?
However, because your cat will be radioactive for several days after receiving the shot, precautions must be taken during and after the treatment. While the treatment is fairly expensive, over the long term it could be cheaper than medication and is on a par with surgical treatment.
How to treat hyperthyroid cats?
Hyperthyroid cats suffer overactive thyroid glands, circulating too much thyroid hormone through their system and affecting nearly every organ. Radioactive iodine therapy offers a cure through a simple injection that returns thyroid function to normal levels. However, because your cat will be radioactive for several days after receiving the shot, precautions must be taken during and after the treatment. While the treatment is fairly expensive, over the long term it could be cheaper than medication and is on a par with surgical treatment.
How long can you leave a cat at a vet?
Since you'll have to leave your cat at the facility for several days or more, it's not a question of dropping him off at a distant veterinary hospital and then picking him up the next day. It requires two round-trips for you.
Is radioiodine safe for cats?
The Disadvantages of Radioiodine Therapy Treatment for Cats. Radioactive iodine therapy is becoming the treatment of choice for felines with hyperthyroidism. However, it may not be the best treatment for your particular cat. Weigh the pros and cons of various treatments and discuss options with your vet.
Can you wear protective clothing on a cat in the hospital?
He's radioactive, so it's not safe even for humans wearing protective clothing to spend too much time around him.
Can a cat eat other food if they have a thyroid problem?
It might not be an option for a frail cat who shouldn't undergo anesthesia. A prescription diet is available that lowers thyroid hormone, but for it to work your cat can't ever eat any other food.
What is radioactive iodine used for?
Radioactive iodine is usually the isotope Iodine 131 ( half life ~ 8 days). It is used in medicine both as a tracer and , in larger doses, for treating thyroid cancer. You will never just ‘take' a dose of radioactive iodine. You may be ‘given' a dose by qualified nuclear medicine professionals.
How long after iodine treatment can you go home?
For a few days after radioactive iodine treatment, you will be slightly radioactive. Every day the doctors will come and take measurements from you to work out how much radiation is left in your body. They will tell you when the radioactivity has dropped to a safe level and you can go home.
How does iodine tablet work?
Iodine tablets work on one radioactive isotope, Iodine 131, which is a fission product likely to be found in fallout from a nuclear bomb. The way it works is a little complicated, but instructive. It doesn’t actually affect the radiation from the decay of iodine 131, just the location of the iodine 131 when it decays.
Why is 131 in milk different from iodine?
The reason it is different is because in Eastern Europe, most diets do not provide enough iodine to keep the iodine receptors in the thyroid gland full. This is where the protective effect of taking iodine supplements shortly before unknowingly drinking milk with iodine 131 in it.
Why does 131 cause cancer?
Because it takes time for enough for enough decays of the iodine 131 to occur to increase the probability of the mutations being the ones to cause the cancer - to be the cancer that a little bit of iodine at the right time could have prevented.
How long does radiation last?
If the radiation were a significant risk to others it would pose an even greater risk to the patient, who is exposed to it at close range 24 hours a day until levels drop to negligible levels with an 8.02 day half life (unless killing the thyroid cells causes the iodine they contain to be excreted, in which case radiation levels would drop faster).
What is I-131 used for?
I-131 is used for a variety of nuclear medicine procedures, in activities ranging from a few millicuries to large fractions of a curie. Approaches to public dose control from the patients also vary around the world. I live in the United States, and the release criteria for I-131 patients here are stipulated under federal regulations such that doses received by members of the public from the radioactive patient are below 5 mSv. Using default criteria for calculating this public dose, a typical dose rate at one meter distance from a recently-discharged patient would be 70 uSv/h. This is broa