The Things You Didn't Know About RAI I-131

Some doctors say thyroid cancer is the good cancer,but what is so good about it when you have to go thru radiation treatment and the side effects it produces. Did you know that I-131 side effects are very hard on the body?

Side effects of I-131 are:

Sore throat

Swelling of the Salivary glands

Vomiting

Headaches

Constipation

Diarrhea/Constipation

Fatigue which can last for as long as a year after I-131

Severe Allergic Reaction to I-131 are:

Shortness of Breath

Rash/Hives

Fever

Chills

Swelling of the throat

Things you need to Know:

You have to be on a low iodine diet at least 2 to 4 weeks before RAI I-131.

Low iodine diet recipes can be found at Thyca.org

Things you can do to stop your Salivary glands from swelling during I-131 treatment: suck on lemon drops or put lemon juice in your water every 15 minutes even thru the night. It must be started within 24 hours after treatment is given.

You also must shower and wash your hair 2-3 times per day. This washes the excess radiation out of your pores.

If your dose of I-131 is high they may ask you to stay in the hospital for a few days, this is to stop contamination from the radiation to the rest of the public and your family.

To keep from contaminating your family you must seclude yourself from the rest of the family (depending on how high your dose) from 1-2 weeks, that means not sleeping with your spouse or significant other.

There are 3 types of Thyroid cancer: Papillary , Medullary and Anaplastic

Places you can go to get more information:

Thyca.org

Thyroid Cancer at John Hopkins

American Thyroid Association

AACE

Endocrineweb

Light of Life Foundation

Medscape

Thyroid Today

PLWC