This leaflet has been written to provide information for patients and their relatives. We hope this will answer your questions, but it may give rise to others which we are happy to answer.
The multi professional team that will be caring for you consists of a nuclear medicine physicist, oncology consultant and nurse specialist.
We hope you find this helpful and welcome your comments, should you have any.
What is radioiodine?
There are several radioactive forms of iodine. The one we use is called Iodine-131 (131I) and it is used to treat thyroid cancer and other thyroid diseases. Iodine is part of everyone’s diet and is necessary for the normal working of the thyroid gland. This gland is situated in the neck and controls the speed at which many bodily processes take place. Like ordinary iodine, radioiodine is taken up by any remaining thyroid cells but the radioactivity destroys them. The treatment is painless.
How do I prepare for treatment?
Most patients will prepare for this treatment with injections of a substance called “recombinant human thyroid stimulating hormone” (rhTSH) on the two days prior to radioiodine. The injection is given into muscle (usually the buttock). The injections can generally be given at home but occasionally patients need to come to hospital to have them administered.
The most common side effects associated with recombinant thyroid stimulating hormone are nausea and vomiting, headache, fatigue and dizziness but these are usually mild. Less common side effects include lack of energy, back pain, flu-like symptoms, fever, rash, shivers and a tingling sensation. Rare side effects include palpitations, joint and muscle pain, shortness of breath and water retention.
Very occasionally patients will stop thyroxine (T4) tablets six weeks prior to radioiodine treatment. It is usual to have short-acting liothyronine (T3) at 20mcg twice a day for one month and then to have two weeks without thyroid hormone replacement.
It is important that you follow the instruction regarding stopping the thyroxine medication given to you by your consultant. Please contact the hospital if you are unsure about your thyroxine medication. During this time it is usual to experience symptoms such as dry skin, dry hair, feeling lethargic and depressed all of which can interfere with daily life.
Less common side effects include lack of energy, back pain, flu-like symptoms, fever, rash, shivers and a tingling sensation. Rare side effects include palpitations, joint and muscle pain, shortness of breath and water retention.
Should I keep taking my other medications or tablets?
If you are taking any other tablets you should carry on doing so. Bring a supply with you on admission. If you are taking calcium tablets prescribed by your specialist team please keep taking them. If you are taking any other vitamin or mineral supplements or cod liver oil, stop taking them around three weeks before your treatment, this will help reduce your iodine levels.
How is radioiodine given?
The radioiodine is in capsule form and administered by a physicist. The treatment itself involves simply swallowing the capsule. The whole procedure takes only a few minutes.
It is usual to give an anti-sickness tablet half an hour before you receive the radioiodine. (You will need to have collected this and your thyroid hormone tablets if required, from outpatient’s pharmacy in Addenbrooke’s, prior to attending Nuclear Medicine.) This is as a precaution and most people do not feel sick as a result of the treatment.
Are there any side effects?
Possible early side effects associated with radioiodine treatment are neck discomfort (some swelling 24 to 48 hours after treatment), taste abnormalities, nausea, acute inflammation of the salivary glands and radiation induced gastritis and cystitis. Side effects vary from person to person; you may have none or several of the side effects described. They are however rare, generally minor and usually temporary. Medication can be given to relieve some of these symptoms.
Late side effects associated with radioiodine are very rare and include a dry mouth, dry eyes and secondary carcinomas or leukaemia.
Please do talk through any of your questions with the consultant or a member of the treatment team.
What if I become, or am likely to become pregnant, or father a child?
Women are advised not to become pregnant or be breast feeding for six months after radioiodine treatment and diagnostic radioiodine scans. It is very important that you do not have radioiodine if you are pregnant or if you think that you might be. Please let the medical staff know if you are unsure before you have your treatment. You should use a reliable contraceptive until all your treatment has finished. In the long-term your fertility will not be affected although there may be a small risk if repeated doses of radioiodine treatment are needed.
If you are breast feeding you should stop this before you have radioiodine treatment.
Men are advised not to father a child for four months after radioiodine treatment. In the long term your fertility should not be affected but there may be a small risk if repeated radioiodine treatment is needed.
If you do become pregnant or father a child, you will receive counselling from your doctor about the possible risks to your unborn baby.
What happens on the day of treatment?
Before collecting your medications from outpatient's pharmacy you should attend one of the blood testing rooms to have your thyroid hormone and thyroglobulin samples collected. Once you have had the blood test and collected the medications you should attend Nuclear Medicine on Level 3.
In the Nuclear Medicine department you will be taken to the treatment room where you will be for the duration of your visit. Before your treatment you will been seen by a Doctor who will have given you an explanation of the treatment. On the day you will be seen by a physicist who will give you an explanation about the radioactive safety precautions to follow on departure. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions that you may have.
Following these discussions you will be given the Radioiodine (see ‘How is Radioiodine given?’ section for details). Following the administration you will be immediately radioactive and therefore a risk to others. However once the radioactivity has reached a safe level you may go home. To find this level the physicist will take measurement at regular intervals and inform you once you can leave, this typically takes around three hours but can take longer so be prepared to stay all day. When you leave you will be given some restrictions by the physicist who will describe these verbally and give some written instructions (see ‘Are there any restrictions when I get home?’ section for more details).
What precautions are taken about the radioactivity?
The radioiodine leaves the body in urine, stools, saliva and perspiration. Some of the radioactivity may get into your clothing, bedding and anything that you put into your mouth.
Rinse your toothbrush and flannel thoroughly after use. You should wash your hands before knitting or reading.
Do not chew pencils or knitting needles or lick postage stamps or envelopes as traces of radioiodine may be transferred to these items on your saliva.
What do the physics staff do?
The physics staff are trained in the handling of radioactive substances and with all the radiation aspects of your treatment. A physicist will explain the procedures to you before giving you radioiodine.
Is radioiodine dangerous to others?
In this treatment, radiation will be used for your benefit. There is a possibility that it could be harmful to those with whom you come into contact. Advice on safe activity will be given before you leave the department.
Can someone come with me?
If you need someone to bring you to the appointment they will not be able to stay with you during the treatment, but once your radioactivity has dropped to a safe level they will be able to take you home. Please do not bring anyone who is pregnant or under 18.
What is the nuclear medicine scan?
The scan shows the position of any radioactivity in your body and it helps to measure the progress of the treatment. For the scan to be performed it is necessary for you to lie on a flat surface while the scanner takes pictures of you from above and below.
Are there any restrictions when I get home?
Before you go home you will be seen by the physicist and any restrictions will be explained. You may need to take some time off work and avoid public transport and places of entertainment. You will probably be asked to avoid close contact with other people, particularly children, for a few days. The details will be given to you on your yellow card (the yellow card is issued with the exact details of radioactivity levels and instructions on what the restrictions are for the patients when they are at home).
Wash any clothing, flannels or towels used during the first few days after your treatment separately from the rest of the family’s laundry. This is only necessary for the first wash.
A condom should be used for the first month after radioiodine treatment.
What may I eat before my radioactive iodine treatment?
A diet that is rich in iodine can reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. Therefore, one week before you come into hospital we recommend that you follow the Low Iodine Diet guidelines and advice below:
Low Iodine Diet
Non-urgent advice: Low iodine foods you can eat freely
- Fresh/frozen fruit and vegetables, including potatoes
- Cooked green vegetables like spinach and broccoli
- Fresh/frozen meat
- Ordinary table salt and sea salt
- Rice and dried pasta
- Fresh bread (including fresh sliced bread)
- Non dairy spread such as Vitalite or Pure or Flora non-dairy
- Olive oil, vegetable oils and nut oils
- Water, soft/fizzy drinks, fruit juices and alcoholic drinks
- Tea and coffee without milk
- Milk substitutes such as rice, coconut, almond or soya milk (please check labels for ingredients and avoid brands that contain carrageenan which is a seaweed derivative)
- Dark/plain chocolate with a minimum of 70% cocoa
- Crisps
Non-urgent advice: Foods which should be limited
- Milk - limit to a maximum of 25ml per day which could be used in tea and coffee (i.e. about 5-7 teaspoons of milk per day)
- Butter - limit to a very thin scraping (one teaspoon or 5g) per day
- Cheese - one ounce or 25g once per week
- Dairy produce like yoghurt, dairy ice cream etc (limit to one portion per week)
- Egg - one per week only
- Egg containing products like mayonnaise, custard, fresh egg pasta, egg fried rice, pancakes, Yorkshire puddings etc.
Urgent advice: High Iodine foods which should be avoided
- Fish, seafood, seaweed, kelp, laverbread
- Raw green vegetables like spinach or broccoli
- Cakes and biscuits containing butter and eggs
- Milk chocolate and white chocolate
- Take away- meals and fast foods/restaurant foods (as ingredients are unknown)
- Iodised salt and Pink Himalayan salt if imported/bought outside the UK
- Vitamins and mineral supplements, nutritional supplements and cough mixtures
- (unless prescribed by your medical team, for example vitamin D)
Meal suggestions
Will I have to come back for another treatment?
Your course of treatment depends on your individual case, however further treatment is rarely required. Your hospital doctor will discuss this with you when you return to the outpatient clinic. This attendance is usually about six weeks after your radioiodine dose and occasionally earlier if your doctor wishes to monitor your medication.
Where can I get help?
Contact numbers are listed below for you to call if you still have unanswered questions or problems with regard to your disease or treatment. You can also contact us if you experience any unexpected problems or side effects.
If you think of a question write it down in the space given below when it occurs to you and have the list to hand when you visit the clinic or call it.
If you are planning to travel abroad shortly after radioactive iodine treatment please discuss this with your consultant.
Contact numbers
Thyroid specialist nurse – Inge Harrison
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 01223 348796
Nuclear medicine physics team: 01223 217139
Ward A5 – Weekends/Emergencies: 01223 216312
Thyroid Secretary – Carolyn Langham:
Mon-Fri: 01223 586705
We are smoke-free
Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the hospital campus. For advice and support in quitting, contact your GP or the free NHS stop smoking helpline on 0800 169 0 169.
Other formats
Help accessing this information in other formats is available. To find out more about the services we provide, please visit our patient information help page (see link below) or telephone 01223 256998. www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/accessible-information/
Contact us
Cambridge University Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust
Hills Road, Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
Telephone +44 (0)1223 245151
https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/contact-enquiries/