My mother recently had thyroid cancer removed and starts radiation in Nov.
She mentioned she would need to quarantine herself from us for 10 days to keep us from getting exposed.
What is she supposed to do?
Hole up in a tent?
Geez. I am new to this and so is she.
Any suggestions

No, never heard this before. Our kid was in radiation for 6 weeks. There is no exposure to you, only to the person receiving the radiation. Even radiation does not impact the immune system, but it does have its own effects. But what she might be saying, is that she probably should not be around sick ppl before it all start, I don't think it's about you all being exsposed, moreover, about her being exposed.

If she's swallowing a pill, she may very well have to isolate herself from others. I took radioactive iodine many years ago for an overactive thyroid. I had to limit my exposure to others (for their sake) even back then. Now, I think they know more and are more strict about it.

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I googled thyroid cancer and RAI (radioactive iodine) and there are quite a few articles with specific things a patient needs to do while taking treatment. Here are some examples I found:


Minimize contact (less than 3 feet or 0.6 meter for more than 1 hour each day) with everyone for the first five days, and with small children or pregnant women for eight days.
Do not sit next to someone in an automobile for more than one hour.
Sleep in a separate room and use separate bath linen and launder these and underclothing separately for one week.
Wash your hands with soap and plenty of water every time you use the toilet.
Rinse the sink and tub thoroughly after using them.
Use separate eating utensils or disposable eating utensils. Wash eating utensils separately for one week. Do not prepare food for others.
Flush toilet 2-3 times after use for two weeks after discharge.
Males should sit when urinating to avoid splashing for one week.
Discuss with your doctor how long you should wait before starting a pregnancy after your treatment (usually at least two months for males and six months for females).
If you are breastfeeding, it should be discontinued, but can be resumed for subsequent childbirths.

They should give your mother a list of do's and don'ts during treatment. When I went through treatment they gave me papers with instructions, they talked to me everyday for the first week to go over instructions with me until I got the routine. If your mother is confused about specifics (*believe me it can get confusing to anyone) then have a family member ask questions prior to her first treatment so the proper plan can be implemented.

Good Luck and your mother and family will be in my prayers.

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I had thyroid cancer and went through radiation treatments. I did have to isolate myself. It is for the safety of your loved ones. You can actually affect their thyroid. At the time, we lived i na two-level duplex....so I went and stayed in my bedroom and kept the door shut. My husband took care of the kids and brought food to my bedroom door. I also used a different bathroom than everyone else (we had two bathrooms) so that no one else had to deal with it. I drove myself to and from treatments as well. Please do not hesitate to PM me.

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Thanks so much for your replies!
I am going to call my mom and talk to her about what you guys posted.
I appreciate your help and good thoughts/prayers!!

I have also had radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid cancer. And I also had to be quarantined. They gave me a list of dos and don'ts when I got the treatment.

Please let me know if you or your mom has any questions. I had my surgeries/treatment 5 years ago and am doing just fine now.

My husband had radiation treatments for hihs cancer and he never had to quarantine himself.

My sis in laws dad had radiation for prostate and he had to keep himslef away from his family memeber for 10 days. I know it was VERY hard for him because his grandkids are his life and it drove him crazy to not see them for so many days.

Jen

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I had RAI, and also had to go through an isolation period. My dose of radiation was fairly high, and I had to stay in the hospital in isolation for a week. After that I was released to go home, but still had to isolate myself from my family somewhat for a couple of weeks. I couldn't hold my children (very young at the time), they had to go to daycare for two weeks while my husband worked. I had to use plastic/paper eating utensils, and did not prepare food to avoid contamination risks to others.

Rachel

My husband had radiation after having his prostate removed because of cancer. two years ago. He did not have to isolation himself. His only side effect was he was tired.

Wow guys, I had no idea that some ppl had to do that. How awful, not only to be sick and in treatment, but to have to be isolated during the worst time.

Again, there are different types of radiation.

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My dad had prostate cancer and had radiation seed implants. He was told to not get close to children for a couple weeks.

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That is what affected me the most. My husband and kids couldn't hug me or get close enough to cuddle. Driving myself home after radiation treatment though was the worst for me. I was sick and sad and by myself.

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It really depends on the type of treatment. I had breast cancer 2 years ago. I underwent radiation therapy for 6 weeks every day. I was not required to isolate myself. Whereas a friend who had radiation for thyroid cancer was. She had to use plasticware and paper plates too.

Good luck to her.
katamasmom

My husband went through that 2 years ago. He had to go on a special diet with no iodized salt and no milk products leading up to getting the RAI. I had to stay away from him in another room for a week, then keep arms length for another couple days. It was during our Anniversary too! Thank God that we had two bathrooms in our trailer. I think if we had children at home or only one bath, they would have kept him for a few days after the RAI, but they had him come home. Yet, I had to drive him home and make him set in the back. Alot of rules for your safety, but then they did stupid stuff, like not having another exit door. You had to leave through an extra long hallway right after taking the stuff, where we passed at least 50 or more people coming in to go to work. They said I couldn't use the same bathroom, and had to leave as soon as you took the stuff, but then the doc told him to stop at a mcd's on the way home to go to the bathroom. We lived an hours drive from the hospital.We didn't do it, of course, but they contradicted themselves on stuff. Your mother will also probably lose her taste and things might taste metallic for awhile, but that will gradually go away and things will get back to normal. Oh, she will also probably have to eat a piece of lemon every hour after coming home for 24 hours unless it is different where you are. It is to keep the salivary glands from damage from the RAI. Any cancer to me is bad, and everyone kept saying that if you get any, this is the kind to get and I thought that was awful, but I can see if now, as hubby says it is a piece of cake compared to chemo patients, etc. where they really get sick and have to keep enduring all the time. If you google thyroid cancer, it will probably direct you to a support group, if your mother wants it. I found some advice for hubby, but My hubby said it scared him more with all the conflicting advice. If you need to know anything else, feel free to email me.

My 17 year old Niece had her thyroid removed and the radiation pill and they wanted her quarantined. She ended up staying at my Mom's as not to expose any of the younger siblings. She was told to use plastic utensils, paper plates and flush toilets 2 x's.

I went through thyroid cancer last year, and had to be away from my family for 15 days (my son was only 3 yrs. old), so they wouldn't be exposed. I believe it was safe to go in public after 7 days because you wouldn't be in long contact with anyone, plus I had to go back to the hospital for a body scan. You basically do the same as others mentioned, plastic utensils, flush toilet 2x, need your own bathroom for those days,etc....plus you also do a low-iodine diet beforehand, now that's the really hard part!

Good luck, hope all goes well~

Yes, that diet was terrible if you don't eat like that every day. I would rack my brain trying to make tasty things for hubby. I ate the diet right with him, as I didn't want to make two things. I baked bread the old fashioned way, but since hubby also is diabetic and has to watch his fats, starches, etc. it was hard to do. Thank god that you could have unsalted Fleishman's margarine, as we couldn't get Mother's brand here.

If you are receiving radioactive iodine for cancer I-131, you will have to follow precautions. Iodine is taken up and used by the thyroid gland. Young people are most likely to have problems if they are around you. Avoid pregnant women also, as exposure could damage the fetus's thyroid. I work in nuclear medicine, and although every dept/dose is different, they will give you specific instructions to follow. IE: don't make food that involves a lot of touching (hamburger patties), use paper plates and plastic utensils, discard toothbrush after your restrictions are lifted, flush toilet twice after each use, wash clothing and bedding if you perspire and/or after restrictions are lifted, If you must ride in a car with someone, if they are driving, you should ride in the back seat on passenger side, etc, etc, etc. Thankfully your restrictions don't last very long, but please do avoid public places, as you never know if you'll be near (especially ) children.

When I went through cancer I could be by others but had to use a seperate bathroom (waste carried a risk). Also, we had to have it specially cleaned once I was done with treatments. I used paper products and plastic sliverware because the "metalic" taste was so very bad.

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