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Thyroid Cancer and The Role of Radioactive Iodine Treatment in Its Management
Thyroid cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and it affects thousands of people every year. Moreover, its incidence rate has been increasing in the last decade, making its management an important medical challenge. In this regard, the role of radioactive iodine treatment has emerged as a potential therapy for the management of thyroid cancer.
What is Radioactive Iodine?
Radioactive iodine is a form of iodine, which contains the isotope Iodine-131. This isotope has the property of decaying by releasing radiation in the form of gamma rays and beta particles. This type of radiation is used as a cancer therapy to target cancer cells and kill them while limiting the damage to healthy cells.
What are the Benefits of Using Radioactive Iodine?
When used appropriately, radioactive iodine has several benefits. First of all, it can help target the cancer cells while limiting damage to the surrounding healthy cells. In addition, radioactive iodine can provide an effective form of treatment that is not too invasive and can be done without any surgical intervention. Furthermore, its localized application minimizes the risk of any systemic side effects.
How Is Radioactive Iodine Used for Thyroid Cancer?
Radioactive iodine is used in thyroid cancer management in a variety of ways. It can be used to diagnose the presence of a certain type of thyroid cancer known as differentiated thyroid cancer, particularly papillary and follicular forms. During diagnosis, a small dose of radioactive iodine is injected into the patient’s bloodstream. This helps the radiologist determine the presence and the extent of the thyroid cancer.
Another important use of radioactive iodine is in treating the cancer. In this type of treatment, a higher dose of radioactive iodine is administered through a tablet, liquid or capsule form. When taken by the patient, the radiation travels via the bloodstream to the thyroid and to any cancer cells present in the thyroid gland. The radiation subsequently kills the cancer cells, thereby reducing the size of the tumor.
Conclusion
Radioactive iodine treatment has emerged as an effective form of therapy for the management of thyroid cancer. This treatment is capable of providing an accurate diagnosis of thyroid cancer while minimizing the risk of any systemic side effects. In addition, it can provide an effective form of treatment to reduce the size of the tumor, thereby aiding in the management of thyroid cancer.
Keywords: Thyroid Cancer, Radioactive Iodine, Treatment, Management, Diagnosis, Radiation, Isotope, Papillary, Follicular, Therapy.
