Butterfly Thyroid Cancer Trust: Radioiodine (I131) Treatment for Thyroid Cancer

This information has been designed to provide you with some useful information regarding your admission to the Northern Centre for Cancer Care (NCCC) for Radioiodine (I131) treatment. It explains / includes:

Where you will have your treatment

How your treatment is given

Special precautions that will need to be taken

Possible side effects

Discharge arrangements

Low Iodine Diet sheet [opens in a new window]

Why am I having I131?
Where will I have my treatment?
Am I nursed in a special room?
Why do I need to be nursed in a special room?
What is in the radioiodine suite?
When will I have my treatment?
How is I131 treatment given?
What will happen after I have had my treatment?
What are the visiting arrangements?
Will I experience any side effects with I131 treatment?
How can I prevent myself from becoming bored?
What will happen on the day I am due to leave hospital?
Going back to work
What if I experience any problems when I go home?
Family planning
References

If you have any further questions regarding your forthcoming admission please do not hesitate to contact your Thyroid Nurse Specialist or your consultant’s secretary or the staff on the ward.

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Information produced by M. Vincent in collaboration with Medical, Nursing and Medicial Physics staff together with Butterfly Thyroid Cancer Trust, March 2005.

Updated March 2011 by Nicola Armstrong, Thyroid Cancer Nurse Specialist, Northern Centre for Cancer Care (NCCC).