Re: Cremation of Sr-89 patients

[Mr Jo <mjo@scs.unr.edu>]

I found Kathreen Kaufman is very knowlodgeable about this subject. She can be
reached Kathleen Kaufman <KKAUFMAN@dhs.co.la.ca.us>. M. Jo

Karin Gordon wrote:

> A question to those folks routinely administering Sr-89 radionuclide therapy
> for palliation of painful bony metastases (usually in prostate Ca patients).
> The typical dose administered is about 150 MBq (4 mCi), and we anticipate
> that there will be about 75% skeletal uptake, with the remainder being
> rapidly exreted in urine within 2-3 days post administration.
>
> We are wondering - if the patient should unexpectedly die within weeks or
> months after the treatment is admininstered,  what guidelines do you provide
> the patient and their family as well as to mortuaries and crematoria as to a
> minimum time period between the Sr-89 Tx administration and when it is
> permissible to cremate the body?  I know this has been a concern for folks
> in the funeral industry for a while, and I'm wondering if you could share
> any guidelines that have been established by your facility or regulatory
> authority.
>
> Any help you could provide would be welcome.
>
> Karin Gordon
>
> ****************************************************************************
> ********************
> Karin Gordon RTR, RTNM, RTT
> Radiation Safety Office
> Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre
> GC-214, 820 Sherbrook Street
> Winnipeg, Manitoba
> CANADA, R3A 1R9
>
> phone   (204) 787-2903
> fax        (204) 787-1313
> e-mail    kgordon@hsc.mb.ca
> ****************************************************************************
> ********************
>
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--
========================================================
Myung Chul Jo, MS, CHP
EH&S, Mail Stop 328
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, Nevada 89557
(775)784-4540
(775)784-4553 fax
mjo@scs.unr.edu


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