Prostate Cancer Treatment Can Affect The Thyroid

Research reported on in the Journal of Urology has found that the use of implanted radioactive "seeds" as a prostate cancer treatment may affect the thyroid. In this type of treatment, known as brachytherapy, the small seeds, which contain radioactive iodine, can break open and the iodine then is absorbed by the thyroid.

So far, the risk is considered fairly small, but if the radiation dose to the thyroid was deemed to be fairly significant, the researchers have said that "preventive medication -- such as iodine solution -- would be given to minimize possible complications." Iodine solution can partially block the gland's ability to absorb the radioactive iodine.

SOURCE: Journal of Urology, November 2004.