Radioactive Iodine (RAI) Treatment for Thyroid Disease: Is Secondhand Exposure Safe?
Monday November 19, 2007
Each year, doctors offer an estimated 28,000 people radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment for thyroid cancer. In the past, patients receiving higher doses of RAI were hospitalized and isolated, to avoid exposing family and friends to excessive radiation. But in early 1997, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ruled that many patients receiving higher doses of RAI no longer required isolation and hospitalization. USA Today recently conducted a survey of more than 900 thyroid cancer patients, and found that more than half of them were given RAI and sent home. Are thyroid cancer patients unnecessarily exposing family and friends to the health risks of radiation? Is secondhand exposure to I-131 safe, or risky? Is it safe to release patients treated with I-131, or should they be isolated to prevent exposing others to radioactivity?
USA Today looks at these questions, and the safety of radioactive iodine treatments used for thyroid cancer in the article "It kills thyroid cancer, but is radiation safe?"
The article is one in a multi-part series, which also includes these three articles:
- Doctor's main concern: Not contaminating her daughter -- which profiles 43 year old Connie Basch and what she did after her RAI treatment to protect her daughter Kaia.
- 'Princess' had fewer worries before she was a mother -- which profiles Elizabeth Larson, who had RAI after surgery to remove cancerous nodules on both sides of her thyroid.
- "Radioactivity may be danger" -- which discusses thyroid patient Peter Crane's petition to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to restore the previous standard, and make it easier to hospitalize "radioactive" patients to safeguard their families and those in close proximity to them.
Comments
I had 2 RAI treatments for Graves’Disease. The first was in 1998, the 2nd in 2002. My son, 6 at the first treatment, and 10 at the second is now 16 and suffering from subclinical hypo. He has no antibodies; so it is unlikely to be Hashimotos. Our 7 year old dog was a pup during the second treatment. He is sluggish and slow–very atypical for a terrier. I’m taking him for testing this week. Obviously, cancer is a huge worry, but no one mentions the possibility of thyroid damage leading to hypothyroidism.
I often wonder about the exposure my family and pets had after my RAI treatment. I had a relatively low dose for Graves’ disease, but did find it scary when I took an adventure to my father’s chem lab and the geiger counter there began making noise. That was proof to me there was some exposure going on to those around me.
I had RAI 29 years ago for Graves Disease. I do not know the dose only know that the Dr. told me not to hold my 9 month old son for very long for a few days. I have had a few health issues since then and wonder if it could be the RAI. They didn’t know much about the long term side effects back then.
I had thyroid cancer 30 years ago, when I was 25. I drank the RAI that was brought to me in a lead container.
Now it is a pill. When I was scanned I was sent to the other side of the hospital because the machine could not be calibrated as my radioactivity would interfere. Flush the tiolet twice, keep kids/pets away, no kissing, as it could ‘destroy their thyroid tissue.’
My treatment was every three months, on and off my medication for over two years.
I was in nursing school then, devasted. Now 2007 I have been an ICU nurse for almost 30 years on Armour Thyroid.
Thank you for your story.
I had RAI in 1993 for Graves Disease and NO ONE ever said ANYTHING about keeping away from family members. They just sent me home and said come back in 6 months for a blood test. Within two months I crashed, something else NO ONE had told me could happen - in fact, I had no idea what was wrong with me, I only called the endrocrinologist as a last resort to see if I was having possible side effects. It took another 3 years to get me on an effective dose of medicine. Both my daughters, now adults, have already had borderline thryoid issues. To think this is more than ‘genetics’ and actually may be because they were exposed to radioactivity by me upsets me greatly. But how to prove it?
I had radioactive iodine & was sent home after having it done back in the 1990’s. Now my thryoid issues are just as bad as before. Have the weight gain & very big puffy eyes. What can I do to find out if the iodine has affected by body as well as my family?
Same old song: I had RAI for Graves around 1996, when my son was 3. I was only told not to hold him close to my neck for a few days! Now he’s 15 and I’m starting to wonder if he might be subclinical hypo. He’s having a physical this afternoon, so I will raise both issues (excess radiation and possible hypothyroid) with his doctor. I see the same GP and he just switched me to Armour at my request, so maybe he will also be more amenable to testing/treating the youngun.
My heart breaks when I think of all of us that have been undertreated, and now I come to find out our families have been downright endangered!! Sometimes I don’t think the world is big enough to hold all the anger I have for the so-called “medical community.”
May God bless you all and bring you relief and health (because I don’t think your doctors will!!)
Here is a good one for you. Back in the early 90’s I was treated for a active thyroid and when the tech was out just being a nosey patient I happen to lean over and saw the x-rays. My Thyroid was not enlarged as was stated to receive the Idoine Treatment but was small and I wonder then why was I suject to the Radio Active Idoine! The Tech gave no answer and said that surgery for removal of the Thyroid was schedule I did not go back and of course I did not get a second dinostic at that time but I did know that something was not right. Here I am today with a shattered heart and a Thyroid that is so sluggish that my TSH is 38. The standard medication doesn’t even work! At 46 I tried to lose weight which use to be so easy. I can go two week and not lose a single ounce on the best so call eating plan! I have cut out all pork and sea food, eat salads and fried food once a week, take fiber tablets, even drink water like a thirsty child. I did get the treatment and was told (at Christmas Time) to stay away from my children, family and to keep my head wrap. My third child would you believe is suffering from Hypo she is only 28. It really makes you anger to know that this is still going on and you really do not know who to blame. Therefore, talking about a person that prays all the time. Oh yes, I want to get better for I love being out but I get so tried and my skin is so dry I wonder WHY! Looking Forward To A Better Day.
Connie, my heart and prayers go out to you. You saved my life when I was sick, and I wish I could help you! Have you tried going to mexico for b17 and vit c IV therapy? I’ve seen many online get help over there. Also have you tried sota instruments or have you spoken to the folks at tumorx.com
Phillis,I am in the same boat in 97 had the raidioione but I was told to stay away from my family for three days so they left me home alone. Now I’m 44 and the weight gain has been bad. I tried every diet under the sun even not eating still no wieght loss just tired as hell.I feel so bad my husband is great dont comlpain it the weight.I have never had a weight problem before in high school track star always a size 5 now 18.The doctor says I only had the graves for a few months before treatment so I was skinny from being hyper.If anyone out there knows of a way of losing weight please help.