Thyroid Cancer  Radioactive Iodine
The radioactive form of iodine (I-131) has been used for 40 years to treat hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer, and in small doses, to test thyroid function.
Iodine is a natural substance your thyroid uses to make thyroid hormone and radioactive iodine (RAI) is collected by your thyroid gland in the same way as non-radioactive iodine.
Since the thyroid gland is the only area of the body that uses iodine, RAI does not travel to any other areas of the body (except for small amounts that go to the salivary glands), and the RAI that is not taken up by thyroid cells is eliminated from your body, primarily in urine.
It is therefore a safe and effective way to test and treat thyroid conditions.
Extensive studies have shown that patients who have been treated with radioactive iodine are not at increased risk for thyroid cancer or any other type of cancer.
Children and young adults who have undergone this form of treatment, have also been carefully studied, and do not appear to be at increased risk for cancer.
Prior to administering the RAI, the goal is to prepare your body to take up as much of the iodine as possible.
This preparation is done by either stopping your thyroid hormone pills for a 2 to 4 weeks prior to the operation or by keeping you on the thyroid hormone and administering a medication called Thyrogen.
Thyrogen is a man-made form of thyroid stimulating hormone — the hormone that tells your thyroid to increase its activity levels.
You will need to have a thorough discussion with your physicians to decide which form of preparation is right for you.
It is important to note, that pregnant or breast feeding woman should never receive RAI for any reason because it may destroy the developing fetus' thyroid.
You should wait 6 to 12 months before attempting to get pregnant.
If you plan to have a baby, you should discuss your situation with your doctor.
Although RAI can pose a risk to your baby's thyroid, radioactive iodine itself does not cause infertility or other birth defects.
(See section on pregnancy and fertility.)
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