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Re: saftey of being in the proximity of someone on RAI therapy
An interesting issue is that radioactive human waste
is not regulated, but radioactive animal waste is, or
should be.
--- Russ Johnson <rujohnso@nmsu.edu> wrote:
> Interesting debate, one of which I've wondered
> about. Here's something
> related.
> A researcher called me about two years ago with a
> question about her cat.
> Seems her cat was injected with a therapeutic
> isotope, can't recall the
> details now, but I don't think it was radioiodine.
> She asked me what she was
> supposed to do with the "hot" urine and feces
> collected in its litter box.
> Her veterinarian only said to make sure she
> collected it, but had no advice
> on what to do with it once collected. I can't
> remember the isotope's half
> life so she could decay it out before disposal. But
> if possible, that's what
> I would recommend. But from what I've seen, the
> medical, dental and animal
> medicine fields seem to be at least partially exempt
> from NRC regulation.
> The law defers to the physician. So, she just simply
> sent the collected
> litter and box to the landfill. We never heard
> anything back from them. I
> would daresay human radioactive excretia or
> contaminated solid waste is
> treated similarly.
> -Russ
>
>
> John Jacobus wrote:
>
> > Philip,
> > Unless there is a regulatory state requirement,
> which
> > I doubt, there is no requirement to isolate
> household
> > trash. It is a nice idea, but unless the hospital
> or
> > local authorities are willing to pick it up,
> patients
> > should not be required to do so. Does Colorado
> have
> > such a provision?
> >
> > I have never heard of a private citizen being
> asked to
> > pay charges for contaminated waste.
> >
> > --- Philip Egidi <phil.egidi@state.co.us> wrote:
> >
> > > And PLEASE have your friend follow the
> instructions
> > > given (hopefully) by
> > > the doctor/clinic/hospital as to disposal of
> wastes
> > > that may contain the
> > > I-131 after she is released from patient care.
> Do
> > > NOT just throw paper
> > > towels or anything that may contain body fluid
> > > (feces, urine, sweat,
> > > vomit, etc), in the trash - it may set off
> alarms at
> > > the local landfill.
> > > Your friendly state regulator (or less friendly
> > > hazmat response team)
> > > may end up dumping the load looking for the
> > > offending trash in order to
> > > deal with it appropriately/ If the responders
> can
> > > trace the radioactive
> > > trash back to your friend, she may get a visit
> from
> > > the suits, and
> > > perhaps a bill for the effort.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Phil Egidi
> > > Colorado
> > >
> > > >>> John Jacobus <crispy_bird@YAHOO.COM>
> 08/19/04
> > > 07:42 AM >>>
> > > Steve,
> > > Your friend is being treated with I-131 to
> ablate
> > > any
> > > remaining thyroid tissue. I-123 is an imaging
> > > agent,
> > > which was probably used during a diagnostic scan
> to
> > > assess her the extent of the cancerous thyroid
> and
> > > uptake of iodine.
> > >
> > > Because she no longer has a functioning thyroid,
> > > various hormonal and physiological problems will
> > > develop. Eventually, she will be put on a
> synthetic
> > > hormone that will have to be adjusted over time.
> > > Too
> > > little, and the patient is lethargic. Too much,
> and
> > > the patient is too hyper. I assume they have
> not
> > > started her on replacement therapy because the
> want
> > > to
> > > ensure that all of the cancerous thyroid tissue
> has
> > > been destroyed.
> > >
> > > Your friends sinus problem may be a side effect
> of
> > > the
> > > removal of the thyroid, or a totally unrelated
> > > effect.
> > >
> > > There are a number of Web sites dealing with
> thyroid
> > > cancer try
> > >
> http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_3x.asp?dt=43
> > > and
> > >
> >
>
http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/types/thyroid/
> > >
> > > With regard to at home care, the precautions she
> is
> > > asked to take are to ensure that exposures to
> the
> > > public and family members as the I-131 decays.
> She
> > > should have been given a date as to when she no
> > > longer
> > > needs to follow these precautions.
> > >
> > > The precautions you discussed with probably
> provide
> > > minimal protect to you. Potassium iodine would
> > > protect your thyroid from uptake of radioiodine.
> > > However, patients do not excrete significant
> amounts
> > > of iodine. It is bound to the remanant throid
> > > tissue;
> > > proper hand washing and sanitary activities,
> e.g.,
> > > using separate eating utensils, precludes the
> spread
> > > of contamination.
> > >
> > > The use of a leaded apron will provide no
> benefits
> > > to
> > > protecting yourself from radiation emitted by
> your
> > > friend. The radiation emitted by I-131 is high
> > > energy,
> > > and the leaded apron protects against low energy
> > > x-ray
> > > radiation. The best way to protect yourself is
> to
> > > stand or some distance from your friend, e.g., 3
> to
> > > 6
> > > feet, and not spend significant amounts of time.
> I
> > > would avoid spending whole evenings watching TV
> with
> > > her.
> > >
> > > It is also important to keep in mind that the
> > > recommendation are precautionary. No harmful
> > > effects
> > > have ever been shown to occur to caregivers who
> have
> > > worked with therapy patients.
> > >
> > > --- Steve Packard <kb1ipd@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hello. I realize that this board is not
> normally
> > > > concerned with nuclear
> > > > medicine, but perhaps someone with a good
> health
> > > > physics background could
> > > > help me.
> > > >
> > > > I have a very good friend who a few years ago
> was
> > > > diagnosed with thyroid,
> > > > throat and lymphoid cancer. Her thyroid was
> > > > removed and since then she has
> > > > been given radiation therapy approximately
> every 6
> > > > months.
> > > >
> > > > Her therapy consists of direct gamma
> irradiation
>
=== message truncated ===
=====
+++++++++++++++++++
"Everyone is ignorant, only on different subjects."
Will Rogers
-- John
John Jacobus, MS
Certified Health Physicist
e-mail: crispy_bird@yahoo.com
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