What is radioactive iodine therapy?
Radioactive iodine therapy uses a radioactive form of iodine that is selectively absorbed by the thyroid gland, while the rest of it is mainly excreted from your body in saliva, urine, sweat, and breast milk (for breastfeeding women). It is used as an adjuvant treatment after surgery for advanced or recurrent thyroid tumors.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding or giving birth:
– Pregnancy or having children should be avoided for four to six months after treatment.
Breastfeeding should be stopped for four to six weeks before treatment and after treatment completely.

The patient must follow some precautions after being exposed to radioactive iodine, including:
– The patient should stay away from children and pregnant women.
– The patient must isolate for 5 to 7 days after the dose.
– Do not sit or stay close to anyone, but rather try to maintain a separation distance of no less than one meter. As for long periods (more than one hour), maintain a distance of two meters, and make it three meters from pregnant women and children under the age of 18 years.

Please avoid close contact with children under the age of 18 as much as possible, such as hugging or carrying children. It is also recommended to avoid unnecessary contact with them for an additional week after the isolation period
– Children under the age of two must be looked after by someone else.
– The patient must drink large amounts of water to help get rid of radioactive materials.

Use a bathroom/toilet other than the one your family uses and make sure there are no fluids (sweat/urine) on the toilet.
– Wash your hands twice after using the bathroom.
– Bathe daily if possible;
– Rinse the bathtub well after use.
– Use a paper towel or your own washcloth after washing hands.
– Change your bedsheets daily and wash your clothes and covers separately from the family’s clothes
The patient must refrain from riding in the car with other individuals for more than an hour for a week
– The patient must sleep in a separate bed and marital relations are prohibited.
The wife should avoid pregnancy for a month after receiving the dose
– Radiography is done a week after receiving the dose