Question 1

what happens to iodine-131 in the body after it has been used to treat thyroid cancer?

Accepted Answer

Same as plan iodine: You ingest iodine every day - in salt, salty foods, seafood, many breads, & red food coloring.  The thyroid absorbs what it needs; the rest is excreted into the urine (+ a little into sweat, saliva, and other secretions).  The i-131 atoms that decay in the thyroid cells (and give off beta and gamma energy that kills thyroid cells) become nonradioactive xenon-131 atoms, and are breathed out.

Question 2

common benefits of iodine 131?

Accepted Answer

Benefits...: Iodine 131 is often used to treat conditions such as graves' disease, plummer's disease, or thyroid cancer.  Iodine 131 is a beta emitter and emits beta radiation to damage hyperthyroid tissue or thyroid cancer.

Question 3

what is the half-life of iodine 131?

Accepted Answer

Long: Although you excrete most in your urine, feces, sweat... After 3 days, the rest remains in iodine avid tissue for  2-3weeks exposure to others after 1w safe, request you do not expose yourself for min 3-4 d after receiving dose.

Question 4

what are the benefits/disadvantage of iodine 131?

Accepted Answer

See below: I-131:
-brings the condition under control somewhat quicker
-will cure the condition with little chance of reoccurrence
 (anti-thyroid medication often requires prolonged medication and may not cure the problem)
-avoids potentially serious side effects of taking antithyroid medication for a prolonged period

*But most will become permanently hypothyroid and need a daily thyroid hormone supplement

Question 5

hi, what are the advantages and disadvantages of iodine 131 in nuclear imaging? e.g. the cost and the abundance, the stability

Accepted Answer

I 131 for treatment: The 131 isotope of Iodine is used to treat thyroid nodules and cancers due to its long half life.  It's pretty cheap, but is given as an in pt. so there is cost there. 
 I 123 is often used for diagnosis. Also used is technetium 99m to assess blood flow to nodules.
 Most common thyroid screen is ultrasound. Occasionally MRI can be a good problem solver as well.

Question 6

how might the radioisotope iodine 131 be used?

Accepted Answer

Iodine 131 uses: Major uses include the treatment of thyrotoxicosis (hyperthyroidism due to graves disease), sometimes hyperactive thyroid nodules (abnormally active thyroid tissue that is not malignant), & some types of thyroid cancer that absorb iodine.

Question 7

is radioactive iodine safe if i have multiple health issues?

Accepted Answer

Generally yes: If you're referring to radioactive iodine for treatment of hyperthyroidism, it's probably the safest treatment. Not associated with birth defects, cancer, leukemia etc.  Much safer than not treating the hyperthyroidism, particularly if you have "health issues". There are also oral anti-thyroid pills. Surgery has potential risks and should be avoided except in special cases.

Question 8

can you tell me some exercise after radioactive iodine treatment, i-131?

Accepted Answer

RAI : Hi. Was the 131-I for hyperthyroidism or for thyroid cancer? Once your hypothyroidism is treated and you stably have normal thyroid function (or slightly hyper if thyroid cancer), you're good to get back to your pre-illness workout routine. Be patient...you've been thru a lot. But go for it. You'll get back in your groove. To your health!

Question 9

i am having radioactive iodine 131 treatment in two weeks, do you have any tips for me?

Accepted Answer

Radioactive iodine: Eat low i foods and avoid high i products (kelp, certain vitamins, certain cold/cough remedies).  Is this for hyperthryroidism or cancer?  If for hyperthyroidism, you need to wait 3-4 days, and then you can resume your (other) treatments, eg methimazole.  But discuss this with your doctor.  It may take 3-4 months for the rai to ablate the thyroid.  Watch for symptoms of hypo.

Question 10

what to if i am having radioactive iodine 131 treatment in two weeks, does anyone have any tips for me?

Accepted Answer

Follow instruction: Just follow the instructions from your doctor, and from the nuclear medicine docs. You may have been given written instructions.  Read them. Avoid dietary iodine. Follow instructions on medications, esp thyroid-related drugs (methimazole, levothyroxine, etc).  If this is for graves disease, you may want to take/resume a b-blocker after the treatment since T4 and T3 (liothyronine) may increase transiently.

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Doctor answers about:

What happens to iodine 131

A member asked:

What happens to iodine-131 in the body after it has been used to treat thyroid cancer?

A member asked:

Common benefits of iodine 131?

A member asked:

What is the half-life of iodine 131?

A member asked:

What are the benefits/disadvantage of iodine 131?

A member asked:

Hi, what are the advantages and disadvantages of iodine 131 in nuclear imaging? e.g. the cost and the abundance, the stability

A member asked:

How might the radioisotope iodine 131 be used?

A member asked:

Is radioactive iodine safe if i have multiple health issues?

A member asked:

Can you tell me some exercise after radioactive iodine treatment, i-131?

A member asked:

I am having radioactive iodine 131 treatment in two weeks, do you have any tips for me?

A member asked:

What to if i am having radioactive iodine 131 treatment in two weeks, does anyone have any tips for me?

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