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RE: Radioactive "seed" treatment no threat to others- ISOTOPE??
Both I-125 and Pd-103 decay by electron capture and hence, produce low
energy x-rays (i.e., 20-35 keV). Typical seed loading ranges from 0.2 to
0.6 mCi (for I-125) and up to 2 mCi for Pd-103.
I have had experience with surveying patients who were implanted with 80 to
100 I-125 seeds. Typically, the dose rate at the surface of the skin at
the base of the penis is about 2 mrem/hr. At 3 ft it is virtually
undetectable. Physicians typically advise against sexual intercourse for 3
to 6 months, more for fear of dislodged seeds in semen than from any
concern about radiation exposure to the wife.
Thomas L. Morgan, Ph.D.
Director, Health Physics
Radiation Safety Officer
Isotope Products Labs
Burbank, CA
818-843-7000
-----Original Message-----
From: RadiumProj@cs.com [SMTP:RadiumProj@cs.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2000 8:45 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Re: Radioactive "seed" treatment no threat to others- ISOTOPE??
Is anyone familiar with the radionuclide used in the specific seeds tested
in
the following study noted in a post to radsafe? I would think it is Iodine
based and not Pd-103. Any insights from people closer to this issue?
Stewart Farber
email: radiumproj@cs.com
========================
In a message dated 11/29/00 11:28:18 AM Eastern Standard Time,
sandyfl@earthlink.net writes:
> Radioactive "seed" treatment no threat to others
>
> CHICAGO, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Radioactive "seeds" used to treat
> prostate cancer in men pose no radiation risk to their wives or
> families, who would absorb more radiation simply living in the high-
> altitude city of Denver, researchers said on Monday.
>
> "We can now tell a woman, 'The amount of radiation you will get from
> your husband in one year is less than you would get from living in
> Denver for three or four months,'" said Jeff Michalski, a radiation
> oncologist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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