Aa
worried about RAI
Hi everyone I am new and will have my RAI treatment tomorrow. I had a TT on Nov 13 and have been preparing for this day. However, I am a bit nervous my boyfriends family suffered a huge tragedy this past weekend and I have been extremely sad and trying my best to not depend on him as much as usual. Luckily I have a very supportive family but I do miss him and I grieve with him as well. My questions are does anyone have any suggestions what to do to keep myself occupied so I won't become even more depressed alone? Also what do you mean by watching your electrolytes? Why do people say the 131 may increase your risk of cancer my doctor says it doesn't but I read somewhere that it could? Also I feel terrible that I will be radioactive because my boyfriends families funerals on Wednesday but I don't think I can handle it. I feel so selfish cause I feel I should be there as they have been for me. Any words of wisdom and faith would greatly raise my spirits.
I had RAI just over 10 years ago for Graves Disease. I was never told of the possible risks of secondary cancer. I was just told how wonderful RAI is. Yesterday, I was diagnosed with Stage 0 breast cancer at 45. I have zero risk factors. Do I wish I could turn back the clock and refuse RAI -- you better believe it. Read this article.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3358416&dopt=Abstract
I am planning to now be tested for stomach and kidney cancer as well. I am more than just a little bitter right now. Sorry for venting.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3358416&dopt=Abstract
I am planning to now be tested for stomach and kidney cancer as well. I am more than just a little bitter right now. Sorry for venting.
I am so sorry for the loss. What a tragedy. God will work
out the right timing for you to have this treatment.....
I was told to suck on lemon candies and drink lots of water.
However, there are several opinions as to when to start doing
this. Does anyone know... Someone said sour candies 24 hours
later...the same with water?
Linda b.
L.A.,CA
TT12/4/06
RAI 1/18/07
I am so sorry to hear about your loss, what a tragedy. I could not imagine losing one child let alone three. My thoughts and lots of prayers are with you, your boyfriend and his family. May God give you and your family strength to get through this and peace in your hearts.
Cheyne
Cheyne
I am so sorry to hear about your boyfriend's loss. I know you, he and his family are all grieving, but do take care of yourself. It is important to all of you as well. My prayers are with you. Kathy
I am very sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your boyfriend's family. Cheryl
You'll be in my thoughts!
Thank you for the post, I looked through many of the scientific articles and, well, let's just say I'm glad that I'm going off the HRT and getting a mammogram next week. :-(
Hang in there and please, please keep us posted. Your boyfriends family will be in my thoughts and prayers too.
Thank you for the post, I looked through many of the scientific articles and, well, let's just say I'm glad that I'm going off the HRT and getting a mammogram next week. :-(
Hang in there and please, please keep us posted. Your boyfriends family will be in my thoughts and prayers too.
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers they are so appreciated. Faith that can move mountains is my goal and I know it takes time. Support, family and friends is where I find comfort and through them and their faith it is helping me increase mine even when it gets cloudy I hope to see better. It takes work but i will get there. God has given me so much and I can't lose sight. Thanks again.
Also, what I did was google < thyroid effects second primary cancer > all on one line without arrows (I just put those to seperate) and several came up including the one i gave earlier there you don't have to register just click it should be the fourth major heading down
Talk to you soon.
Also, what I did was google < thyroid effects second primary cancer > all on one line without arrows (I just put those to seperate) and several came up including the one i gave earlier there you don't have to register just click it should be the fourth major heading down
Talk to you soon.
Hi again,
I am so sorry for the loss of the three children. That is devastating, I know. You all will be in my thoughts and prayers as well.
I went to the site you suggested, but have to register to get in and read. I refuse to do that. Do you have any other sites. Or perhaps you could copy and paste a short prescript here.
I had a lower dose of RAI than people with thyroid cancer, but it still concerns me nevertheless. I have been all over the internet for the last 10 years had have never came across legit site with info on RAI causing cancer. But it doesn't mean that its not there, I just haven't run across it yet.
Good luck tomorrow - you'll be in my thoughts and prayers.
Come back and let us know how it went for you.
God Bless!
I am so sorry for the loss of the three children. That is devastating, I know. You all will be in my thoughts and prayers as well.
I went to the site you suggested, but have to register to get in and read. I refuse to do that. Do you have any other sites. Or perhaps you could copy and paste a short prescript here.
I had a lower dose of RAI than people with thyroid cancer, but it still concerns me nevertheless. I have been all over the internet for the last 10 years had have never came across legit site with info on RAI causing cancer. But it doesn't mean that its not there, I just haven't run across it yet.
Good luck tomorrow - you'll be in my thoughts and prayers.
Come back and let us know how it went for you.
God Bless!
As for the fleet enemas - no, they don't cause cramps like laxatives can and they have a stool-softening effect. Not my favorite subject to discuss on a forum but they do work (and some of us with IBS have tried nearly everything). Okay, I'm overcoming my Freudian block on talking about bowel functions. :-)
As for the *slight* change that RAI may cause other cancers, I was told this by the nuclear medicine technicians/department and it was in all of those lovely disclaimers I had to sign. I guess it's just a great way to cover their butts because I had to had to sign something very for every MRI, CT scan, and mammogram I've ever had. The technician said the best way to ensure the radiation didn't stay too long in the bladder or colon was to drink as much water as possible to flush it out ASAP. When they did my full body scan (week later) there was a bit of I-131 in my colon and bladder but it wasn't much compared to the *huge* amount in my neck.
Hang in there and my best to you!
As for the *slight* change that RAI may cause other cancers, I was told this by the nuclear medicine technicians/department and it was in all of those lovely disclaimers I had to sign. I guess it's just a great way to cover their butts because I had to had to sign something very for every MRI, CT scan, and mammogram I've ever had. The technician said the best way to ensure the radiation didn't stay too long in the bladder or colon was to drink as much water as possible to flush it out ASAP. When they did my full body scan (week later) there was a bit of I-131 in my colon and bladder but it wasn't much compared to the *huge* amount in my neck.
Hang in there and my best to you!
Here is one reference I found on the increased risk of secondary cancer with RAI: http://www.ufscc.ufl.edu/Patient/drug_dictionary.aspx?id=859
Good news for you is the dose commonly given for graves is low enough to mitigate the dangers. The higher doses, for us lucky cancer patients, hold the SLIGHTLY higher risk. However, given the chance of the thyroid cancer recurrence is between 10-30% depending on diagnosis (http://www.meb.uni-bonn.de/cancer.gov/CDR0000062913.html#REF_146),
the odds are in thyroid cancer patients favor if we get the RAI.
Good news for you is the dose commonly given for graves is low enough to mitigate the dangers. The higher doses, for us lucky cancer patients, hold the SLIGHTLY higher risk. However, given the chance of the thyroid cancer recurrence is between 10-30% depending on diagnosis (http://www.meb.uni-bonn.de/cancer.gov/CDR0000062913.html#REF_146),
the odds are in thyroid cancer patients favor if we get the RAI.
ok I found one but I was mistake it does not refer to the RAI sorry but it did worry me enough to check with two doctors both of which said they had not heard of any new findings therefore they did not acknowledge it. Please check it out just wanted your thoughts. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/533375
Please don't be alarmed you know how not everything is true.
Please don't be alarmed you know how not everything is true.
Thank you so much. No I can't reschedule because they only do it on certain days, have to order in advance and scheduled a month ago. I know but hopefully all goes well. Anyhow I am going to find the article and list the site it said new studies show increase in second form of primary cancer linked to RAI. I will post here as soon as I find it.
Sorry for your boyfriends loss and yours.
Can you reschedule the RAI to after funeral on Wednesday? You are going to be stressed not being able to go, and, stress is not good for us in general, let alone going through treatment.
But if you can't, don't beat yourself up for not going, you have a good reason and that is your health and well being.
To keep yourself occupied. Will you be home after RAI or hospitalized.
You can wear these plastic/rubber throw away medical gloves, so you can touch anything you want. They can be purchased at the local drug store. This way you can still use the computer, read, have any hobbies started (or start) that you can work on. Of course there is always TV as bad as it has been with reruns. House work or clean out the closet or cubbats and drawers that you have been putting off. Get a puzzle, even a smalle one that doesn't take long to complete but rather just long enough to keep you occupied for that time period. Need to write a letter, do bills or budget. Anything that you do normally at home can still be done.
Just curious, where did you read RAI gives you cancer?
Below is just a few sites regarding RAI causing other cancers:
Radioactive iodine can be used as a "magic bullet" to seek out and destroy thyroid cancer cells with little or no damage to other tissues in the body. Radioactive iodine therapy has proved to be safe and well-tolerated, and it has even been able to cure cases of thyroid cancerthat had already spread to the lungstolerated, and it has even been able to cure cases of thyroid cancerthat had already spread tolerated, and it has even been able to cure cases of thyroid cancerthat had already spread tolerated, and it has even been able to cure cases of thyroid cancer that had already spread to the lungs. WWW.THYROID.ORG Radioactive iodine therapy (also called radioiodine therapy) uses radioactive iodine (I-131) to destroy thyroid cancer cells anywhere in the body.
The intestine absorbs the I-131, which flows through the bloodstream and collects in thyroid cells. Thyroid cancer cells remaining in the neck and those that have spread to other parts of the body are killed when they absorb I-131.http://www.thyca.org/knowabout.htm - ThyCa - Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc.
The long term risks of developing second cancers after radioactive iodine are extremely small. Radioactive iodine treatment of thyroid cancer is not a "new therapy" and has been used for over 50 (60) years. For a historical overview, see The beginnings of radioiodine therapy of metastatic thyroid carcinoma: a memoir of Samuel M. Seidlin, M. D. (1895-1955) and his celebrated patient. Cancer Biother Radiopharm. 1999 Apr;14(2):71-9. Although inadvertent exposure to radioactive iodine such as in a nuclear accident, can increase the risk of thyroid cancer in exposed subjects, the medical use of radioactive iodine has not been associated with the same risks, and patients who have had their thyroids removed surgically are clearly not at risk for development of a second thyroid cancer. See Thyroid cancer following exposure to radioactive iodine. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2000 Apr;1(3):197-203. Review.
The only reference to RAI causing cancer that I have been able to find is that Researchers have reported that a very small number of patients may develop leukemia years after treatment with high doses of radioactive iodine for thyroid cancer.
Good Luck!
Can you reschedule the RAI to after funeral on Wednesday? You are going to be stressed not being able to go, and, stress is not good for us in general, let alone going through treatment.
But if you can't, don't beat yourself up for not going, you have a good reason and that is your health and well being.
To keep yourself occupied. Will you be home after RAI or hospitalized.
You can wear these plastic/rubber throw away medical gloves, so you can touch anything you want. They can be purchased at the local drug store. This way you can still use the computer, read, have any hobbies started (or start) that you can work on. Of course there is always TV as bad as it has been with reruns. House work or clean out the closet or cubbats and drawers that you have been putting off. Get a puzzle, even a smalle one that doesn't take long to complete but rather just long enough to keep you occupied for that time period. Need to write a letter, do bills or budget. Anything that you do normally at home can still be done.
Just curious, where did you read RAI gives you cancer?
Below is just a few sites regarding RAI causing other cancers:
Radioactive iodine can be used as a "magic bullet" to seek out and destroy thyroid cancer cells with little or no damage to other tissues in the body. Radioactive iodine therapy has proved to be safe and well-tolerated, and it has even been able to cure cases of thyroid cancerthat had already spread to the lungstolerated, and it has even been able to cure cases of thyroid cancerthat had already spread tolerated, and it has even been able to cure cases of thyroid cancerthat had already spread tolerated, and it has even been able to cure cases of thyroid cancer that had already spread to the lungs. WWW.THYROID.ORG Radioactive iodine therapy (also called radioiodine therapy) uses radioactive iodine (I-131) to destroy thyroid cancer cells anywhere in the body.
The intestine absorbs the I-131, which flows through the bloodstream and collects in thyroid cells. Thyroid cancer cells remaining in the neck and those that have spread to other parts of the body are killed when they absorb I-131.http://www.thyca.org/knowabout.htm - ThyCa - Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc.
The long term risks of developing second cancers after radioactive iodine are extremely small. Radioactive iodine treatment of thyroid cancer is not a "new therapy" and has been used for over 50 (60) years. For a historical overview, see The beginnings of radioiodine therapy of metastatic thyroid carcinoma: a memoir of Samuel M. Seidlin, M. D. (1895-1955) and his celebrated patient. Cancer Biother Radiopharm. 1999 Apr;14(2):71-9. Although inadvertent exposure to radioactive iodine such as in a nuclear accident, can increase the risk of thyroid cancer in exposed subjects, the medical use of radioactive iodine has not been associated with the same risks, and patients who have had their thyroids removed surgically are clearly not at risk for development of a second thyroid cancer. See Thyroid cancer following exposure to radioactive iodine. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2000 Apr;1(3):197-203. Review.
The only reference to RAI causing cancer that I have been able to find is that Researchers have reported that a very small number of patients may develop leukemia years after treatment with high doses of radioactive iodine for thyroid cancer.
Good Luck!
Thank you soooooo much Utahmomma. I took laxative already and I am waiting for it to kick in. Does fleet cause cramps?
How horrible - you and your boyfriends family will be in my prayers.
Yes, constipation is a problem and needs to be resolved or the radiation will stay in your system too long and could (possibly) cause problems with your intestines. My sister tried laxatives but they didn't kick in for quite a few days. Ask the nurses for fleet enemas. Good news is the constipation should resolve as your TSH levels drop. Drink lots of fluids too! Since you aren't hospitalized today (and are apparently really constipated) start the enemas tonight to get things moving.
Hopefully you will be out of the hospital in time for the funeral. I'm so sorry you and your boyfriend are going through all of this right now. Lean on each other!
You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Yes, constipation is a problem and needs to be resolved or the radiation will stay in your system too long and could (possibly) cause problems with your intestines. My sister tried laxatives but they didn't kick in for quite a few days. Ask the nurses for fleet enemas. Good news is the constipation should resolve as your TSH levels drop. Drink lots of fluids too! Since you aren't hospitalized today (and are apparently really constipated) start the enemas tonight to get things moving.
Hopefully you will be out of the hospital in time for the funeral. I'm so sorry you and your boyfriend are going through all of this right now. Lean on each other!
You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
also is constipation normal. I mean really constipated. My doc recommended a laxative and stool softener but i would much rather something more natural
Thank you so much for responding and Yes I will be hospitalized. It is because of that that I am worried about the funeral on Wednesday. If you are a person of faith, which you must be to encourage others please pray for his family as they lost three of their four children to a drunk driver this weekend. I could use it too. Also will my immune system be down.
Welcome and I'm so sorry for your boyfriend and his family.
Will you be hospitalized for your RAI? Some of us are, some of us are sent home. The rule of thumb is avoid long-term, close contact with anyone for 3 days following the RAI (meaning don't hold any children, don't sit close to anyone for more than about 10 minutes, and NO KISSING OR SEXUAL CONTACT). Saliva (and other bodily fluids) is how the radiation is expelled from the body so you can hug your boyfriend at the funeral but nothing more than a peck on the cheek. After 5 days you should be pretty much "clean".
I was allowed to be home immediately after RAI and basically locked myself in my room. I had some DVDs and books (and a ceiling to paint) but I was so exhausted from the hypo that I mostly slept for those three days.
I hope that your hospital gave you the standard procedures to prevent radiating your family or friends (no sharing a bathroom if possible, flush at least three times the first three days, separate laundry, disposable utensils, sleep alone, etc.). If your hospital hasn't given you guidelines, here is a pretty good one (my hospital was more restrictive): http://www.thyca.org/rai.htm#after
Have some sour candies to suck on to keep your salivary glands from having serious problems (my sister nearly needed surgery). Drink TONS of water too - you need to flush the radiation out ASAP.
What I've been told is RAI can *possibly* increase your chance of cancer in breast tissue, bladder, and bowels (where the radiation sits waiting to be expelled). Compare that to your chances thyroid cancer recurrence though.
Good luck and please keep us posted!!
Will you be hospitalized for your RAI? Some of us are, some of us are sent home. The rule of thumb is avoid long-term, close contact with anyone for 3 days following the RAI (meaning don't hold any children, don't sit close to anyone for more than about 10 minutes, and NO KISSING OR SEXUAL CONTACT). Saliva (and other bodily fluids) is how the radiation is expelled from the body so you can hug your boyfriend at the funeral but nothing more than a peck on the cheek. After 5 days you should be pretty much "clean".
I was allowed to be home immediately after RAI and basically locked myself in my room. I had some DVDs and books (and a ceiling to paint) but I was so exhausted from the hypo that I mostly slept for those three days.
I hope that your hospital gave you the standard procedures to prevent radiating your family or friends (no sharing a bathroom if possible, flush at least three times the first three days, separate laundry, disposable utensils, sleep alone, etc.). If your hospital hasn't given you guidelines, here is a pretty good one (my hospital was more restrictive): http://www.thyca.org/rai.htm#after
Have some sour candies to suck on to keep your salivary glands from having serious problems (my sister nearly needed surgery). Drink TONS of water too - you need to flush the radiation out ASAP.
What I've been told is RAI can *possibly* increase your chance of cancer in breast tissue, bladder, and bowels (where the radiation sits waiting to be expelled). Compare that to your chances thyroid cancer recurrence though.
Good luck and please keep us posted!!
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