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If you're being treated for hyperthyroidism or thyroid cancer, you may be given radioactive iodine or radioiodine.[1] With this treatment, it's possible to contaminate others with radiation, even though the amount of radiation you're given is fairly small, given that radioactive iodine can remain on surfaces for up to 3 months. For that reason, take precautions to clean up after yourself, particularly in the bathroom and the kitchen, and isolate items you use from other household items. Talk to your doctor about how long to maintain this precaution period; typically, it's 3 to 7 days from your treatment.

Things You Should Know

  • Flush the toilet twice after using it and wipe it thoroughly to properly get rid of radioactive fluids.
  • Shower once a day to rinse away the leftover radioiodine, but make sure to scrub the shower well after using it.
  • Wash your clothes and dishes separately from your family's so you don't contaminate their belongings.
12

Maintain distance from other people.

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  1. They should only come closer for very short periods, such as a minute or two if it's absolutely necessary. Staying 6 feet (1.8 m) or farther away is even better, particularly with children and pregnant women.
    • It's best to be in a different house away from children and pregnant women if at all possible. In fact, avoiding contact with pregnant women for 20 days is best, while you shouldn't get closer than 6 feet (1.8 m) to a child in the first 3 days.
    • Limit car rides with other people. If you need a driver, sit in the back seat in the opposite corner from the driver.[10]
16

Place all contaminated disposable items in a separate trash bag.

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  1. Anything you use that's disposable, such as food plates, utensils, non-flushable cleaning wipes, and gloves, should be placed in that bag.[13]
    • The bag should be leak-proof. You should be able to close it tightly.
    • Keep the bag out of reach of any pets or children. Also, separate it from the other trash bags in the house.
    • Often, you will be asked to return your trash bag with the trash in it back to the facility. In some cases, though, you may be asked to wait 3 months and then throw it away normally.
    • The bag you were given should have a tight seal to keep it from smelling. If it starts to smell, call your local hazardous waste disposal to see if they will take it.

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  • Radioiodine will not stay around forever. It has a half life of 8 days, meaning the amount that is left is halved every 8 days.
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About This Article

Damaris Vega, MD
Co-authored by:
Board Certified Endocrinologist
This article was co-authored by Damaris Vega, MD. Dr. Damaris Vega is a board certified Endocrinologist. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico with a BS in General Science and subsequently earned an MD from the Ponce School of Medicine, Ponce, PR. During medical school, Dr. Vega served as president of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society and was selected as her school's representative for the American Association of Medical Colleges. She then completed a residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes, Mineral, and Metabolism at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Dr. Vega has been recognized for excellent patient care multiple times by the National Committee for Quality Assurance and received the Patients' Choice Award in 2008, 2009, and 2015. She is a fellow of the American College of Clinical Endocrinologists and is an active member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Diabetes Association, and the Endocrine Society. Dr. Vega is also the founder and CEO of Houston Endocrinology Center as well as a principal investigator for multiple clinical trials at Juno Research, LLC. This article has been viewed 65,906 times.
17 votes - 89%
Co-authors: 7
Updated: May 2, 2024
Views: 65,906
Categories: Radiological Health

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 65,906 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Debbie Pasley

    Debbie Pasley

    Jan 23, 2019

    "Just starting treatment and know nothing about it. I knew to clean the bathroom after each use, but not the right..." more
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