RADIATION SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILY
TREATED WITH 131 IODINE FOR THYROID DISEASE
You or a member of your family has been given radioactive iodine (I-131) for the Therapeutic Treatment of Thyroid Cancer.
Patient to receive ______________ mCi I-131 therapy.
Your body will get rid of radioactive iodine in large amounts during the next two (2) days primarily in your urine and to a lesser extent in your stool and saliva. As a result of this normal process, your urine, stool, and saliva will be radioactive. It is helpful to drink a normal amount of fluids but urinate more frequently for three days. Because of this radioactivity, it is important that you make the following temporary changes in your behavior. This will limit the radiation exposure to both you and those people with which you may live and/or work. The basic point to remember is that you, as the patient, need the radiation, others don’t. In general terms the points noted below should be very clear. You must not breastfeed; a portion of the radioactive material will appear in your breast milk. If you continue to breast feed, your child will receive unnecessary radiation exposure and potential damage to his/her thyroid gland. Except for breast-feeding, the risk associated with this radiation exposure is very small if the instructions noted below are followed.
- DISTANCE – the greater the distance you are from others, the less radiation they will receive.
- TIME – the less time you spend around others, the less radiation exposure they will receive.
Use both of these points together and treat others as if you have the flu!
More specifically we need to discuss the following:
__________ Go home directly
__________ Bathroom hygiene
· Have sole use of bathroom if possible. Sit while urinating.
· Flush toilet twice with lid down. Wash hands thoroughly.
__________ Continence of bladder and bowel
__________ If menstruating
· Change pads twice normal frequency.
· Save in plastic bag and dispose in garbage.
· Wash hands thoroughly.
__________ Shower or bathe daily
· Use separate towels, wash cloth and toothbrush from rest of family.
__________ Avoid sharing items that contact the mouth
· Use separate dishes and utensils.
· Wash separately.
· Telephone: cover mouthpiece with a cloth.
__________ Contact with radiation detectors
__________ Sleeping arrangements
· Sleep alone (separate bed)
__________ Limit contact with others
· Maintain a distance of 6 feet when possible.
· Avoid prolonged close contact.
__________ Avoid prolonged close contact with children (more than 5 minutes).
__________ Avoid prolonged close contact with pregnant women (more than 5 minutes).
__________ Avoid prolonged trips with others (>4 hours).
__________ Clothes washing
· Hold clothing and linen and launder separately. Run twice after load removed to rinse.
__________ Avoid pregnancy for 6 months
__________ Care of open wounds, ostomies
__________ If you become ill or have questions, call:
· Dr. __________________________ (336) 716-3520.
The above points have been discussed with me and I understand them:
Patient (or family member) _________________________________ Date:___________________
Instructor: ______________________________________ Date: __________________
Witness: _______________________________________ Date : __________________