Radiation pill for thyroid cancer, what to do after you take it.

[IndeedPanda]

A woman I work with is being treated for thyroid cancer. She might have to take  I-131 and is worried. Can she go to a hotel? What would she need to do to protect the room? She knows she might need to order food and have it left outside the door so she does not have to be in contact with anyone and would request that they do not clean the room during her stay.

That's gotta be lonely and though she is trying to be upbeat and talks about all the reading and movie-watching she will get to enjoy. She worried about getting sick and being alone.

Can she use her phone and laptop? Is she a danger to the hotel room? She will of course tell the hotel in advance, as well as any food delivery service. We could even go early and set up the room but... how?

[cj245]

My doctor told me that you can't have prolonged contact with anyone, but it's okay to be in the same room with people.  It can be hard if you have small children, because they want to hug mommy, but otherwise, there's no reason she needs to go to a hotel.  

If/when I do it, I will sleep in the spare room and put a sheet on the furniture I sit on.   I will use plastic utensils and paper plates for a week or so.   But that's about it.

My partner is a chemistry teacher and used to work for the health department.  She said that  I-131 has a 1/2 life of 8 days....so you need to keep your trash separate for about 2 weeks, so you don't set off the radiation detectors at the dump and cause a scare...but that it's not so dangerous that one needs to go into total seclusion.  My doctor said the same thing.

Now, it does depend on the dosage.  For me, they're talking about 30-50 microcuries....for more aggressive cancers, the radiation may be higher and then hospitalization is normal practice...or so I am told.  I am not a doctor.

cj

[cazbb]

I had to go in the pod at the hospital for Radioiodine treatment for thyroid cancer in 2007, you will have to stay in 3 or 4 days depending on levels, may be less. They will scan you each day to see if the levels are dropping, you drink lots of water to flush everything out. Then when you leave the nuclear department will give you a final scan and provide you with a card saying youve had this treatment and what your current levels are. You leave all your things that were in the room with you and they will wash it you pick it up later. In the hotel you will be safe at a short distance to adults but cant be near children or pregnant women. If things are washed it should be fine and levels will be low by then. But I had to stay in a hotel for a couple of days as I had a 6 month old, and when I went I still kept my distance for about a week to make sure. It is scary taking the pill that no one touches but if it does the job you want it to its not that bad. Wish your friend luck and on yahoo there is a great thyroid cancer uk support group that really helped me. x

[Barb135]

There are precautions that should be taken to protect others; however, I'm very sorry to say I don't know what they all are.  Hopefully, some others will jump in and give more information.

[Totie]

I took it and I was never told anything. I took it went home. My husband & 1yr old where home as well. I didn't keep my distance from anyone. I didn't change anything, but then again I was not told to do anything special. That was 16yrs ago.

Nothing happened....