Hi Everyone,

I have recently had a total thyroidectomy due to having a 3cm papillary (folicular subtype) cancerous tumour. Fortunately the cancer was not detected in any of the removed lymph nodes and there is no sign of it spreading anywhere else. My endocrinologist has recommended that I now have radioactive iodine this week to remove any remaining thyroid tissue and cells. He described the benefits of this treatment as 'mopping up' remaining cells and thereby making future follow ups easier and minimising the chance of the cancer reoccurring. However I have been reading several recent publications on the risks of secondary cancers following rai and I'm not convinced these benefits outweigh the risks. I found a recent paper written by the American thyroid association particularly clear. It does not recommend routine rai for 'low risk' patients. I include a link here if your interested page 56 has a really useful table listing stages and whether research supports the use of rai for each stage.

thyca.org/.../DTCguidelines.pdf

I'm finding this decision really hard to make. Reading the precautions I have to take when returning home to my family (staying 6 foot away from my children, using a separate bathroom, keeping cutlery separate etc.) is really making question the assertion that this treatment has 'minimal' long term risks. 

I'm interested to hear other peoples' thoughts on this if you have gone through rai, declined treatment or are in the same quandry as me. What led to your decision and how are you managing to weigh up the risks vs benefits?