Re: I-131 release program, ICALC -Reply

[Chris Alston <alstonc@odrge.odr.georgetown.edu>]

>X-Sender: simmons@uky.campus.mci.net
>Date:         Tue, 23 Jun 1998 13:04:11 -0700
>Reply-To: Medical Physics Mailing List <MEDPHYS@LISTS.WAYNE.EDU>
>Sender: Medical Physics Listserver <medphys@cwis-20.wayne.edu>
>From: "Guy H. Simmons" <simmons@UKY.CAMPUS.MCI.NET>
>Subject:      Re: I-131 release program, ICALC -Reply
>To: MEDPHYS@LISTS.WAYNE.EDU
>
>According to NRC Reg Guide 8.39, if the administered activity exceeds the
>value in Table 1/column 1 of the Reg Guide, a record of the release criteria
>must be kept.  If the criteria is based on a patient-specific dose
>calculation, the calculation must be included in the record.  There is
>provision for referencing a calculation that is case-specific for a class of
>patients with similar patient-specific factors, such as post-thyroidectomy
>cancer patients.
>
>Guy Simmons
>
>At 07:36 AM 6/23/98 -1000, SCOTT DUBE wrote:
>>Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't understand why there needs to
>>be a patient specific calculation performed for outpatient I-131 therapies
>>under 200 mCi.  We have established a standard set of instructions for
>>the patient (see below).  They must sign an agreement to obey these
>>instructions.  Would we need to also do a calculation of anticipated
>>exposures to others?
>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>
>>GENERAL SAFETY GUIDE FOR HOME CARE
>>FOLLOWING IODINE-131 THERAPY
>>
>>The dose of radioactive iodine-131 that you have received is beneficial to
>>your health.  At the same time, it is important to minimize the radiation
>>exposure to other individuals.  The following guidelines are necessary to
>>keep radiation exposure to others as low as possible:
>>
>>During the first four days following administration, the majority of
>>radioactive iodine-131 will be eliminated from your body through urine.  In
>>addition, a small portion will be found in your saliva and perspiration.
>>Therefore:
>>
>>1.  Wash cups, plates, and eating utensils immediately after use.
>>2.  Do not kiss anybody.
>>3.  Use individual towels and washcloths.
>>4.  You must sleep in a separate bed during this period.
>>5.  Wash your clothing, towels, and bedlinens separately from those
>>     used by other members of your houshold.
>>6.  Avoid contact with infants and pregnant women.
>>7.  Keep a distance of six feet or more from other people, except for
>>     brief periods of contact.
>>8.  Do not use mass transit (bus, boat, plane).
>>9.  Avoid sharing a bathroom with anyone else.  Public restrooms are to
>>     be used only in an emergency.
>>10.  Avoid contaminating any surface with urine.
>>11.  Any vomitus should be disposed into the toilet.
>>
>>
>>During the next four days, certain tissues in your body will likely
>>contain significant levels of radioactive iodine-131.  Therefore:
>>
>>1.  Avoid sitting within one foot of others for prolonged periods
>>     (e.g. crowded movie theater, church)
>>2.  Avoid holding infants or young children for long periods each day.
>>
>>Regarding sexual relations, it is advisable to:
>>
>>1.  Refrain from sexual intimacy for fourteen days.
>>2.  Avoid pregnancy for sixty days.
>>
>>If you have any questions regarding these precautions, please call the
>>Radiation Safety Officer.  His name is Scott Dube, and he can be
>>reached at 547-4884.
>>
>>                    *****
>>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Medphys at:
>>http://www.mindspring.com/~sherouse/MPFAQ/
>>
>>Archives of recent Medphys postings at:
>>http://www.escribe.com/medicine/medphys/
>>
>>
>
>                    *****
>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Medphys at:
>http://www.mindspring.com/~sherouse/MPFAQ/
>
>Archives of recent Medphys postings at:
>http://www.escribe.com/medicine/medphys/
>