What did radioactive iodine pills do?
Because of this, radioactive iodine (RAI, also called I-131) can be used to treat thyroid cancer. The RAI collects mainly in thyroid cells, where the radiation can destroy the thyroid gland and any other thyroid cells (including cancer cells) that take up iodine, with little effect on the rest of your body.
How much does a radioactive iodine pill cost?
A radioactive iodine treatment costs about $390 to $750 for an average dose, according to a February 2011 article[1] published in the New England Journal of Medicine, but patients at ThyroidBoard.com report[2] total costs of $4,000 or more, including hospital and radiologist fees.
How long do you take radioactive iodine?
This may take 8 to 12 weeks or longer. If your thyroid hormone level does not go down after 6 months, you may need another dose of radioactive iodine.
Do you lose your hair with radioactive iodine treatment?
Radioactive iodine does not produce hair loss. Nevertheless, hair loss can be associated with changing levels of thyroid hormone, and may be experienced by some patients with hypo or hyperthyroidism.
How do you get radioactive iodine?
Radioactive iodine is available in an oral pill, so you won’t need to be hospitalized. After you take the pill, your doctor will recommend drinking lots of fluids to prompt the release of the radioactive iodine through your urine. Fortunately, radioactive iodine therapy is targeted to treat only your thyroid gland.
What happens after you take radioactive iodine?
What To Expect After Treatment. Most people don’t feel different after treatment. But a few people may have nausea. Within a few days after treatment, the radioactive iodine will leave your body in your urine and saliva.
How harmful is radioactive iodine?
The thyroid glands of a fetus and of an infant are most at risk of injury from radioactive iodine. Young children and people with low amounts of iodine in their thyroid are also at risk of thyroid injury. Infants have the highest risk of getting thyroid cancer after being exposed to radioactive iodine.
What are the dangers of radioactive iodine?
Some of the risks associated with radioactive iodine include radiation exposure, infertility in men, salivary dysfunction, nasolacrimal duct obstruction, and secondary malignancies. This doesn’t mean that there isn’t a time and place for conventional medical treatment,…
What are the side effects of radioactive iodine treatment?
Because treatment is highly targeted, even the most common side effects of radioactive iodine are relatively rare. One possible side effect is nausea, which may linger for several hours after treatment is administered, and can be reduced by avoiding food for two or three hours before and after treatment.
How do you prepare for radioactive iodine treatment?
If you are going to have radioactive iodine treatment for your thyroid disease, you will have to prepare in advance by following a low-iodine diet. Doing so for at least two weeks prior to receiving your treatment makes your thyroid more receptive to the radioactive iodine, increasing its effectiveness.