Shortage of Radioactive Iodine supply in UK/Europe

Hello
I have heard in the past about shortages of the Iodine isotope that tended to be used for the challenge scans (the one that used to happen about 6 months after RAI - it has a shorter half-life than the treatment isotope so it's tricky to make, transport and store) but I don't recall a major shortage of the one you need. That said, with Brexit and Covid after-effects, I can't say that I'm entirely surprised.

I and people who were treated around the same time - 10 to 11 years ago - was held up by a global shortage of Thyrogen injections due to a problem with the manufacturer of the glass vials that they were stored in. It took about a year to get that one sorted and meant a lot of us had to do drug withdrawal rather than Thyrogen injections because the manufacturers let all the good stock go to the US hospitals.

It's annoying and frustrating for you and your wife but if it's only a couple of months, it shouldn't be a big deal. Let's just hope it doesn't drag on.

I just found this news article from a few weeks ago which may partly explain the issues. 

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-may-face-shortage-key-materials-diagnostics-cancer-treatments-2021-12-07/

Thanks for your reply, Barbara. Seen this news. It’s been already 1.5months after the TT. We were expecting to get a Date for RAI and then this happen. The oncologist is also not sure whether it will be 2 months or more...exploring private option now. 

I have some news for you. I posted in another group where I'm a member and got a couple of updates for you.

Nobody had heard about a shortage of RAI but somebody had heard there could be another shortage of Thyrogen. That's what happened to me, way back when. 

And another person said they have had 3 rounds of RAI (he has a complex case, it's not 'usual' that people get that much) at "the BUPA hospital in Cromwell Road''

I assume that's in London. Might be worth you having a look.

Many thanks Barbara for sharing this news. I don’t know why the Oncologist said that to us. I will speak to someone in BUPA. Thanks again for ‘everything’. 

Based on that article I found, it may well be the case that there isn't so much I-131 available but I haven't found anything more than that one very general article. I also can't find anything about a Thyrogen shortage either.

I'm happy to stand corrected that it IS possible to do RAI in a private clinic. 

Thanks Barbara. Yes, it’s available. Imperial does that and as you said BUPA does it too. Will contact them tomorrow. 

How did it go with Bupa? My treatment got postponed for the second time today and I'm fuming. The shortage was again the reason given 

Very slow ..waiting for 2 weeks, no reply as of yet. Same issue in the private sector as well. Are you in Oxford? Did you get a new date? 

No, I'm in Yorkshire.

Got a new date at the end of Feb now, was initially meant to be 16th of Jan, then 3rd of Feb. So frustrating.