I’m home the last couple of days this week because I’m radioactive. Yes, it’s true. I had to sip radioactive iodine this morning to prepare for my annual thyroid cancer screening. I’ve been to the hospital three times this week for various injections and tests. I’m going back Friday for my screen.
I think I mentioned my thyroid cancer before. A surgeon removed my thyroid (in two operations) almost exactly two years ago. It was cancerous — called follicular cancer. So, part of the treatment after the surgery was a fairly high dose of radioactive iodine (Iodine is absorbed only by thyroid cells, all of which need to be destroyed).
Now I need to have annual blood tests and annual screenings to check for recurrence. I’ll have to do the screenings for the next three years. I can stop if all is clear through that time. But I’ll always need to have the regular blood tests, probably once a year.