Ah, radioactivity. Usually something people try to avoid for fears of cancer and yet here I am, using it to treat cancer. I can't complain too much, after all very few cancers have a magic bullet such as this.
From what I understand, thyroid (and therefore papillary thyroid cancer) cells are unique in that they absorb iodine. Despite my surgeon's amazing job of clearing out my thyroid and lymph nodes, there is always some microscopic debris left behind. By hiding the radiation in iodine, the cancer cells will suck it up and then die. I picture the radioactive iodine (I-131) as Elmer Fudd and the cancer cells as wascally wabbits. And Elmer, he is a hunting!
On Wednesday and Thursday I received Thyrogen shots to stimulate what thyroid cells were left. This morning I got to swallow a non-descriptor grey capsule, carried to the room in a serious looking thermos. Were I ever to go looking for scary chemicals in a Bond villain's lair, I would look for something like that! Somehow the Thyrogen shots make the cells "hungry," so they suck up as much of the I-131 as possible.
This has several benefits...1) I didn't have to stop my thyroid meeds and go more hypothyroid (and therefore more tired than I already am) 2)I didn't have to go on a low iodine diet. I researched it and it didn't look tasty. And 3) it means a smaller dose is as effective as a larger one, reducing longterm risk. I might have needed twice as much, leading to potential hospitalization. In a lead lined room and a slight risk for different cancers in the future. That risk is even less this way, yay!
So far I am not noticing any side effects, except boredom. Thank goodness for gadgets, the internet, and cheap books!
Will update again tomorrow regarding side effects, insights, and boredom. :)
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