Radioactive Iodine Treatment query

Hi WanT1, Welcome to the site, I have had Radiotherapy and everything you have requested would not be needed the only one I would ask your medical Team about is the flying part but again this is possibly more regarding possible loss of resistance to germs as planes are full of them

The following booklet may help

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/stories-and-media/booklets/understanding-radiotherapy

Hope all goes well

Tony

Hi 

My apologies to Kasvin, but I don't think he has experience of thyroid cancer and his advice is not correct.

Radioactive iodine therapy is completely different from other types of radiotherapy and - whilst I agree your questions wouldn't be relevant to standard radiotherapy - they are very relevant to RAI.

Isolation times will depend on how long the hospital consider you represent a danger to other people.

It also depends on the age of those people, with babies and children being more at risk than adults, and pregnant women (and their foetuses) at particular risk.

As you have cancer in a bunch of lymph nodes, I would guess you'll get a higher than average dose, and that it will take a longer time to leave your body - because there are cells there to pick up the iodine and be killed by it.  That's the whole point of the treatement. 

It doesn't sound like you are in the UK, so you'll also need to check what the standard instructions in the country where you are going to be treated are.

Even if you were in the UK,  it would be hard to give you a definite answer to your questions. 

Many hospitals will take radiation measurements during your time in the hospital to work out how quickly the iodine is leaving your body. They can then customise your isolation periods on the basis of how quickly the radiation is declining.

As a guess - and it really is only a guess:

Your son: After a few days, a brief hug probably wouldn't be an issue, but you shouldn't sleep within 1 meter of a child for at least a week or two (the hospital will confirm).

International travel - please don't even consider this for at least 3-4 weeks. You have no control over who will be sitting near you. You could be sat next to a pregnant woman and not even know it. You also cannot keep any other people one meter away from you. There is a further risk that you could set off radiation detectors at the airports - you'll need to get a card from the hospital to take to the airport that explains why you could be radioactive.

Clothes, sheets, etc - some hospitals won't let you take your clothes home, others will say you have to double launder them and not mix your clothes with anybody else's. It's 15 years since I had this treatment and I don't want to guess what the standards are now - especially in another country, Check with the hospital.

Having sex with your wife - well, that's a tough question. I am going to take a guess that you'd be advised to use condoms until you're no longer radioactive, possibly for a longer period. You need to tell the hospital about any plans you might have to have more kids - they may suggest you try to avoid conception for an extended period.  Whatever they advise you about staying away from people would be the minimum time you shouldn't be having sex with your wife. 

In short - everybody is different and hospitals have very varied guidelines. ALL of your questions are highly relevant and you need to discuss with your medical team. 

Thanks - for the correction, the booklet will explain the treatment etc 

Tony