|  | Cancer | Thyroid Cancer

Patient Guide to Radioiodine Treatment of Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer, and it is one of the few cancers that is increasing. But it is one of the most treatable cancers; according the the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for all cases is 97 percent. Radioactive iodine (sometimes called radioiodine, or RAI) treatment may be administered shortly after thyroid removal surgery to destroy any remaining thyroid cells. It can also be used to treat recurrence or spread of thyroid cancer.

  1. Purpose

    • Even if you had a complete thyroidectomy, the surgeon will most likely have left some tissue behind, to avoid removing or damaging the nearby parathyroid glands, or damaging the nerve that controls the voice box. The goal of radioactive iodine treatment is to destroy any remaining cancer cells. Also, destroying (ablating) any remaining thyroid tissue makes it easier for future body scans to detect any recurrence.

    Preparation

    • For radioactive iodine treatment to be effective, you must have high levels of TSH, or thyroid stimulating hormone, in your blood (this stimulates thyroid cells to take up the iodine). You will be instructed to discontinue your thyroid hormone medication temporarily to achieve this. During this time you might suffer from the effects of hypothyroidism, including tiredness, depression and weight gain.

    Treatment

    • You swallow the treatment as a capsule or liquid. Because iodine is taken up only by thyroid tissue, your body excretes any that is not taken up, and there is little chance of harm to the rest of your body. The amount of radioactive material you are given depends on the stage of your cancer.

    Precautions

    • You will be given precautions to protect those around you from radiation (typically, by limiting contact with adults for several days, and by limiting contact with children or pregnant women for a week). During this time you should not prepare food for others, and you should use separate utensils. Very large doses can require that you stay in isolation in the hospital.

    Side Effects

    • Side effects from radioactive iodine treatment can include nausea and upset stomach, dry mouth and eyes, or change in taste and smell. You might feel some pain in your neck, or in other spots where any thyroid tissue remains. You might also feel pain and swelling in your salivary glands. It is very important to drink plenty of fluid after the treatment, as this will help your body more quickly excrete the radioactive iodine.

    Long-Term Risks

    • Radioactive iodine can potentially cause permanent damage to the salivary glands, leading to a dry mouth and changes in taste. Blood cell counts can be temporarily or permanently decreased. The American Cancer Society warns that patients receiving radioactive iodine might be at increased risk for developing leukemia, although the largest studies have found this is a rare complication, and some studies even contradict an increase in risk.

      This treatment should never be used for a pregnant or nursing woman, and pregnancy should be delayed for at least six to 12 months after treatment. It can affect fertility in men.

Thyroid Cancer - Related Articles