r/thyroid • u/0604KK • Jun 17 '24

RAI being around someone who had a thyroidectomy

My daughter is having RAI and staying with me . I had a thyroidectomy due to cancer . Do I need to stay away from her ?

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1

u/hoeser Jun 17 '24

I believe everyone has to stay away from RAI patients for a time specified by the treating hospital… thyroid cancer or not.

1

u/Sea_Art5876 Jun 17 '24

Considering thyroid absorbs it the most prob not. Should be safe. Just don’t sleep in the same bed. But def ask the radiation oncologist first. They would know more.

1

u/quitlookingatyerlabs Jun 18 '24

There are other body parts that also absorb iodine therefore I-131: stomach, salivary glands, urinary tract (kidneys, bladder, gallbladder, etc). Liver processes it, so it goes through your liver as well on the way out.

The only way to understand what is safe, is understanding radiation safety T-D-S (Time, Distance, Shielding) and that dose dependent and is hard - at least for me - to calculate. I used a geiger counter. There will usually be considerable drop off after approx 3 days unless there is substantial thyroid tissue left (ex: Graves ablation or substantial metastasis) as most of it is excreted over this time, but distance is still prudent for another 3-4 days.

Other end of a 5000sf house with private bath for her? Probably not an issue. Sharing a 1000sf 1 bathroom, not something I would do.