REPOST: Dr. Ain: Re: RAI/Breastfeeding (time away from)

[Guest guest]

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(Dr. Ain )

Date: Mon, 09 Aug 1999 09:52:34 -0400

Subject: Re: RAI/Breastfeeding

In-reply-to:

>Hello All,

>

>I had heard that its taboo to have RAI while a woman is still

>lactating/breastfeeding. Anyone familiar with this? Wife, Beth is getting a

>200 dose in late Sept. and is still breastfeeding our little guy.

>

>Thanks

>

>

>Albany, NY

>wife pap thyca -- tt 6/99 3.5 cm " unencapsulated " with two lymph glands

>yanked at no extra charge.

To " " and ThyCa members:

It is criticallyimportant to totally terminate breast feeding prior

to any radioactive iodine scanning or treatment dose. The radiokinetics of

radioactive iodine would not permit breastfeeding for at least 60 days in

order to avoid destroying the baby's thyroid gland or causing thyroid

cancer in the baby. There is no sense to continue lactation, discarding

the milk, and resuming more than 2 months later since the baby would

already be weaned from breast feeding. This is not just a recommendation.

It is a necessity. I do not believe that any nuclear medicine facility

would knowingly administer any radioactive iodine to any woman who is

intending to continue breast feeding. This does not apply to later

pregnancies, provided that there is no need for further scanning and

therapy. As a practical guideline, women thyroid cancer patients should

tend to avoid breastfeeding their children if there is any reasonable

chance that they would need to receive radiopharmaceuticals at anytime

while breastfeeding.

**************PLEASE BE ADVISED**********************

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS COMMUNICATION IS INTENDED

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT INTENDED, NOR SHOULD

IT BE CONSTRUED, AS SPECIFIC MEDICAL ADVICE OR DIRECTIONS. ANY

PERSON VIEWING THIS INFORMATION IS ADVISED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN

PHYSICIAN(S) ABOUT ANY MATTER REGARDING THEIR MEDICAL CARE.

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B. Ain, M.D.

Associate Professor of Internal Medicine

Director, Thyroid Nodule & Oncology Clinical Service

Director, Thyroid Cancer Research Laboratory

Division of Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine

Department of Internal Medicine, Room MN520

University of Kentucky Medical Center

800 Rose Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0084

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