Difference in RAI treatments

[utahmomma]

An interesting question came up in another thread.

I had RAI yesterday and my schedule was
day1: TSH levels
day2: scan dose
day3: ablation dose (a.k.a. Chernobyl)
day7: full body nuclear scan

However in speaking with the technician he thought I was going to have a higher level scan dose on day 2 then come back a week later for the ablation.  I explained that is not what I had been told or planned/scheduled for.

Another poster on this forum has a schedule for her RAI of:
Day 1: scan dose
Day 3: scan
Day 7: ablation dose

This is very similar to what the technician thought I was getting before the chief of Nuclear Medicine looked over my chart and decided to go ahead with the original plan of the ablation dose.  He said it was because of the type and stage of my cancer (papillary carcinoma, Stage I).  

I

[GravesLady]

I assuming you are referring to the 1 123 uptake pill when you say dose(?).  I believe its the particular Labs, with different methods, procedures  and perhaps the purpose for the uptake as well.  After taking the 1 123 pill  normally there is an 6/8 hour uptake, then a 24 hour uptake.  However in my case there was just the 6/8 hour uptake. They scaned my knees too, which I have never heard anyone else having this done.  I came back a week or so later for the actual 1 131 (RAI).  

Day 1:  1 123 pill - back after 6/8 hours for 1st uptake/scan
Day 2:  Back the next day for the 24 hour uptake/scan
Anytime thereafter:  1 131 (RAI) treatment

[utahmomma]

Actually it was I-131 both times.  The scan dose was 1/1000 of my dose of 100mcg of I-131.  No pills - always a liquid in a vile held in a huge, heavy steel container covered with "RADIOACTIVE" signs.  Very comforting.  :-)

[utahmomma]

They scanned my knees and neck both before I received my scan dose and teh next day before my full dose of I-131.

[GravesLady]

1 131 uptake is used for Thyroid Carcinoma, Graves' disease  as in my case 1 123 uptake.
Actually in some cases there are  two test.
Thyroid uptake  (1 123 or 1 131 (liquid or pill)) and thyroid scan which is done by  an injection of a tracer in the vein with  a 10- to 15-minute delay before imaging begins. I only had the uptake, pill form.  I have an acquaintance with Graves' who took 1 131 in liquid form, same Lab, 5 years prier my treatment.

[utahmomma]

Thank you - that makes sense.  I was wondering if the difference was cancer versus other thyroid conditions and you explained it wonderfully.  Thank you.