RAI Measurement Dose

[Joni65]

Does anyone know how a radiologist determines how much RAI  __mCI measure dose to administer to a Thyrpoid Cancer patient?

[Joni65]

Hey I agree with you better be safe with the higher amount of RAI  !!  
Joni

[Joni65]

This is so interesting to be able to talk to so many people who have gone through this! WOO WEE a TSH of 145 before RAI sounds very MISERABLE!  How did you feel!

Joni

[Joni65]

Keep me posted on how you feel!  It is interesting that we both had our TT on the same day!  PS I live in TEXAS TOO!  I was born a Hoosier, but now a COWGIRL!  

YEE HAW

Joni

[kipland]

I had no idea that it was based on weight as well!!  I honestly thought it was the amount of thyroid tissue you had leftover.  Sounds like it's quite an art.....

I had very little thyroid tissue left, and weigh a LOT more than Jalder.  My TSH was at 145 at RAI time, and I was given 30mCi.  We'll see what next years scan shows.

[Joni65]

No I am in the DARK on this RAI dose!  The endo wants me to have labs done on 1/24/08 and then see him on 1/28/08.  I am going to have loads of questions for him because I want to make sure I get the RIGHT amount from the radiologist!  The surgeon informed me that the cancer was in two out of three lymph nodes so if those little cancer cells have mirgrated to other parts of my BODY and are having a Fieasta then I want the highest dose so I can say ADIOS MI CANCER AMGIOS!!!

[Jalder]

The dose depends on several things - body weight, stage of cancer and level of TSH.  I weigh 100 lbs but needed 150miC as I had lymph gland metastases and my TSH was only 45.
Good luck.

[whittie918]

oops, should say, the nuc meds doc did say it also depends on what they are treating (cancer gets more than hyper).

[whittie918]

My endo said 100 but the nuclear meds guy trumped him and said 160 and since it was his (nuclear meds doc) staff he got the say. Truthfully, he seemed to guess based on my pathology report and some experience seemed to be involved too.  Better safe with the bigger number than sorry seemed to be his approach.  

[Liz94]

I'm getting 50 McI and when I asked if that was a lot the endo told me that was "about in the middle."
No idea how he came up with it though, especially since he told me it was "optional."  

[utahmomma]

I know that there is some formula based on your weight, the size and spread of the tumor, type of cancer, etc.  Do you know your dose?  I didn't find out until later then there was some debate between my endo and the nuke medicine doctor about whether 100mCi was enough.  Grrrr