Re: Re: RAI and pets & HUMANS

February 21, 2002

Just had to weigh in on this one. We have friends in Oregon whose wife had

some type of RAI for a cancer thing in 1993. At that hospital, everything

she wore and took with her was incinerated and she was told not to touch her

young children for two weeks. We weren't told any of this two weeks ago when

two endos tried to push us into immediate RAI for our daughter, who'd just

been diagnosed 24 hours earlier. We've found another endo who doesn't even

think about it before age 18, and also hasn't tried to scare us with the

option of surgery, as the first two endos did.

Pam

In a message dated 2/20/2002 11:49:40 PM Central Standard Time,

nmh@... writes:

> You beat me to it but I'll reply anyway.

>

> My cat, Charlie had his RAI or 1-131 done at their Little Falls, NJ

> location two years ago. From their location list it doesn't look like

> they have a facility there anymore. Anyway, the first year we did

> blood work once a month to make sure all was okay. This was not

> necessary but I wanted to be sure he was okay. This year he had his

> yearly physical with blood work and he is just fine.

>

> Prior to treatment, he was given Tap, three times a day (don't recall

> the amount). This was disastrous. He'd hide or run away form me and

> if I got it in his mouth, he'd slyly spit it out. Lastly there was

> the hassle of always having blood work done. Our vet suggested the 1-

> 131 option. We explored it and decided to go with it. It worked!

>

> At the facility the people were extremely nice. It was clear to us

> that they liked cats too. I had no qualms about leaving Charlie with

> them. I had the option of them giving my cat food or bringing my

> own. We brought our own as well as a slept on new blanket and a new

> toy. ALL (food, blanket etc.) had to be destroyed after his

> treatment. Every day they updated us on how he was doing.

>

> We had to leave him there 14 days since my daughter was very young at

> the time. Typically it was 12 days of care at that facility. I don't

> know why they are more stringent with cats than humans. You'd think

> they be even more cautious with humans. I don't understand

> this ... . Below are the precautions for cats returning home:

>

> Safety Precautions Following I-131 Therapy

>

> After being released from therapy, your cat will still possess a very

> low level of radioactivity, being voided out primarily via urine and

> feces. You don't need to totally isolate your cat from people/pets,

> but you must follow these safety precautions for 2 weeks.

>

> 1. Put a plastic liner in box before adding litter (if cat shreds

> liner, don't use it but discard box after 2 weeks). Keep box out of

> occupied bedrooms, kitchen & away from unsupervised dogs & children.

> Put on rubber gloves when removing soiled litter from box (use gloves

> only for this).

>

> 2. Add flushable litter to box, scoop soiled litter into toilet &

> flush.

>

> 3. If your cat vomits/soils outside the litter box, wear your gloves

> & use normal cleaning procedures. Put all soiled paper cleaning

> materials in a plastic bag & put in outside trash (rags may be put in

> washing machine).

>

> 4. Anyone pregnant or younger than 16 should not change the soiled

> litter.

>

> 5. Avoid prolonged face-to-face snuggling, and face/hand contact with

> your cat's saliva & footpads. Keep your cat in an unoccupied room at

> night. Hold, pet & stroke your cat for short periods, then wash your

> hands. Wear your gloves to pill the cat, if needed.

>

> 6. Keep your cat from food preparation areas & your dinner plate. If

> your cat gets on kitchen countertops, put your cutting board where it

> can't be walked on.

>

> 7. Instruct children to avoid the cat, and wash their hands if they

> touch it. Small children may not remember or understand these rules,

> so take extra precautions by having them wash their hands often,

> especially before eating.

>

> 8. Keep the cat confined to your home. Area wildlife, neighbors,

> their children and pets, are unaware of the radioactivity in its

> urine or feces.

>

> 9. After 2 weeks, discard any remaining soiled litter & your gloves.

> Your cat will have lost essentially all of its radioactivity and you

> may return to your normal routine

I want to be the kind of friend Jesus would call, at the end of the day, just

to talk about nothing.-Wayne

February 21, 2002

One thing, too, though, is the dosage they use for cancer is huge. My

brother-in-law had thyroid cancer, had a thyroidectomy, and ended up having

the RAI twice at that horribly high dose. He had to stay in a lead-lined

room for three days each time. They put his food through a little slot in

the door on disposable utensils. The doctors were in " space " suits when

they examined him! And, yes, all his clothes were incinerated afterwards.

Holly

Re: Re: RAI and pets & HUMANS

Just had to weigh in on this one. We have friends in Oregon whose wife had

some type of RAI for a cancer thing in 1993. At that hospital, everything

she wore and took with her was incinerated and she was told not to touch her

young children for two weeks. We weren't told any of this two weeks ago

when

two endos tried to push us into immediate RAI for our daughter, who'd just

been diagnosed 24 hours earlier. We've found another endo who doesn't even

think about it before age 18, and also hasn't tried to scare us with the

option of surgery, as the first two endos did.

Pam

In a message dated 2/20/2002 11:49:40 PM Central Standard Time,

nmh@... writes:

> You beat me to it but I'll reply anyway.

>

> My cat, Charlie had his RAI or 1-131 done at their Little Falls, NJ

> location two years ago. From their location list it doesn't look like

> they have a facility there anymore. Anyway, the first year we did

> blood work once a month to make sure all was okay. This was not

> necessary but I wanted to be sure he was okay. This year he had his

> yearly physical with blood work and he is just fine.

>

> Prior to treatment, he was given Tap, three times a day (don't recall

> the amount). This was disastrous. He'd hide or run away form me and

> if I got it in his mouth, he'd slyly spit it out. Lastly there was

> the hassle of always having blood work done. Our vet suggested the 1-

> 131 option. We explored it and decided to go with it. It worked!

>

> At the facility the people were extremely nice. It was clear to us

> that they liked cats too. I had no qualms about leaving Charlie with

> them. I had the option of them giving my cat food or bringing my

> own. We brought our own as well as a slept on new blanket and a new

> toy. ALL (food, blanket etc.) had to be destroyed after his

> treatment. Every day they updated us on how he was doing.

>

> We had to leave him there 14 days since my daughter was very young at

> the time. Typically it was 12 days of care at that facility. I don't

> know why they are more stringent with cats than humans. You'd think

> they be even more cautious with humans. I don't understand

> this ... . Below are the precautions for cats returning home:

>

> Safety Precautions Following I-131 Therapy

>

> After being released from therapy, your cat will still possess a very

> low level of radioactivity, being voided out primarily via urine and

> feces. You don't need to totally isolate your cat from people/pets,

> but you must follow these safety precautions for 2 weeks.

>

> 1. Put a plastic liner in box before adding litter (if cat shreds

> liner, don't use it but discard box after 2 weeks). Keep box out of

> occupied bedrooms, kitchen & away from unsupervised dogs & children.

> Put on rubber gloves when removing soiled litter from box (use gloves

> only for this).

>

> 2. Add flushable litter to box, scoop soiled litter into toilet &

> flush.

>

> 3. If your cat vomits/soils outside the litter box, wear your gloves

> & use normal cleaning procedures. Put all soiled paper cleaning

> materials in a plastic bag & put in outside trash (rags may be put in

> washing machine).

>

> 4. Anyone pregnant or younger than 16 should not change the soiled

> litter.

>

> 5. Avoid prolonged face-to-face snuggling, and face/hand contact with

> your cat's saliva & footpads. Keep your cat in an unoccupied room at

> night. Hold, pet & stroke your cat for short periods, then wash your

> hands. Wear your gloves to pill the cat, if needed.

>

> 6. Keep your cat from food preparation areas & your dinner plate. If

> your cat gets on kitchen countertops, put your cutting board where it

> can't be walked on.

>

> 7. Instruct children to avoid the cat, and wash their hands if they

> touch it. Small children may not remember or understand these rules,

> so take extra precautions by having them wash their hands often,

> especially before eating.

>

> 8. Keep the cat confined to your home. Area wildlife, neighbors,

> their children and pets, are unaware of the radioactivity in its

> urine or feces.

>

> 9. After 2 weeks, discard any remaining soiled litter & your gloves.

> Your cat will have lost essentially all of its radioactivity and you

> may return to your normal routine

I want to be the kind of friend Jesus would call, at the end of the day,

just

to talk about nothing.-Wayne

February 21, 2002

One thing, too, though, is the dosage they use for cancer is huge. My

brother-in-law had thyroid cancer, had a thyroidectomy, and ended up having

the RAI twice at that horribly high dose. He had to stay in a lead-lined

room for three days each time. They put his food through a little slot in

the door on disposable utensils. The doctors were in " space " suits when

they examined him! And, yes, all his clothes were incinerated afterwards.

Holly

Re: Re: RAI and pets & HUMANS

Just had to weigh in on this one. We have friends in Oregon whose wife had

some type of RAI for a cancer thing in 1993. At that hospital, everything

she wore and took with her was incinerated and she was told not to touch her

young children for two weeks. We weren't told any of this two weeks ago

when

two endos tried to push us into immediate RAI for our daughter, who'd just

been diagnosed 24 hours earlier. We've found another endo who doesn't even

think about it before age 18, and also hasn't tried to scare us with the

option of surgery, as the first two endos did.

Pam

In a message dated 2/20/2002 11:49:40 PM Central Standard Time,

nmh@... writes:

> You beat me to it but I'll reply anyway.

>

> My cat, Charlie had his RAI or 1-131 done at their Little Falls, NJ

> location two years ago. From their location list it doesn't look like

> they have a facility there anymore. Anyway, the first year we did

> blood work once a month to make sure all was okay. This was not

> necessary but I wanted to be sure he was okay. This year he had his

> yearly physical with blood work and he is just fine.

>

> Prior to treatment, he was given Tap, three times a day (don't recall

> the amount). This was disastrous. He'd hide or run away form me and

> if I got it in his mouth, he'd slyly spit it out. Lastly there was

> the hassle of always having blood work done. Our vet suggested the 1-

> 131 option. We explored it and decided to go with it. It worked!

>

> At the facility the people were extremely nice. It was clear to us

> that they liked cats too. I had no qualms about leaving Charlie with

> them. I had the option of them giving my cat food or bringing my

> own. We brought our own as well as a slept on new blanket and a new

> toy. ALL (food, blanket etc.) had to be destroyed after his

> treatment. Every day they updated us on how he was doing.

>

> We had to leave him there 14 days since my daughter was very young at

> the time. Typically it was 12 days of care at that facility. I don't

> know why they are more stringent with cats than humans. You'd think

> they be even more cautious with humans. I don't understand

> this ... . Below are the precautions for cats returning home:

>

> Safety Precautions Following I-131 Therapy

>

> After being released from therapy, your cat will still possess a very

> low level of radioactivity, being voided out primarily via urine and

> feces. You don't need to totally isolate your cat from people/pets,

> but you must follow these safety precautions for 2 weeks.

>

> 1. Put a plastic liner in box before adding litter (if cat shreds

> liner, don't use it but discard box after 2 weeks). Keep box out of

> occupied bedrooms, kitchen & away from unsupervised dogs & children.

> Put on rubber gloves when removing soiled litter from box (use gloves

> only for this).

>

> 2. Add flushable litter to box, scoop soiled litter into toilet &

> flush.

>

> 3. If your cat vomits/soils outside the litter box, wear your gloves

> & use normal cleaning procedures. Put all soiled paper cleaning

> materials in a plastic bag & put in outside trash (rags may be put in

> washing machine).

>

> 4. Anyone pregnant or younger than 16 should not change the soiled

> litter.

>

> 5. Avoid prolonged face-to-face snuggling, and face/hand contact with

> your cat's saliva & footpads. Keep your cat in an unoccupied room at

> night. Hold, pet & stroke your cat for short periods, then wash your

> hands. Wear your gloves to pill the cat, if needed.

>

> 6. Keep your cat from food preparation areas & your dinner plate. If

> your cat gets on kitchen countertops, put your cutting board where it

> can't be walked on.

>

> 7. Instruct children to avoid the cat, and wash their hands if they

> touch it. Small children may not remember or understand these rules,

> so take extra precautions by having them wash their hands often,

> especially before eating.

>

> 8. Keep the cat confined to your home. Area wildlife, neighbors,

> their children and pets, are unaware of the radioactivity in its

> urine or feces.

>

> 9. After 2 weeks, discard any remaining soiled litter & your gloves.

> Your cat will have lost essentially all of its radioactivity and you

> may return to your normal routine

I want to be the kind of friend Jesus would call, at the end of the day,

just

to talk about nothing.-Wayne

February 21, 2002

Hi Pam,

It seems that as time goes by, more and more docs and endos are neglecting

to actually tell people about the dangers to others when we have had RAI. I

am hearing more and more often from people who have just gone through RAI in

the last year that says they were given no precautions...one woman who had

it in '95 told her doctor she would be caring for her new born grandchild

and did she need to be concerned, he actually laughed and told her no.

This just fries my behind! I am go glad your daughter has parents that

truly are looking out for her the way you and your husband are! I could not

imagine having RAI as a young teenager and having to deal with the

repercussions for all those years down the road.

Take care,

Jody

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February 26, 2002

For and Jody,

And in my case, we're trying to avoid RAI for our daughter, only 13. To date

we know of no long term studies of the effects of RAI on children. One endo

told me the risk for tumor doubles, but that since the risk is " so small " to

begin with, doubling small isn't that big a deal. Hmmm.

This same doctor admitted that it's only been in the last 5-7 years that

people have been more willing to let their children undergo this type of

treatment. Oddly, there are studies out on adults who received RAI. My

problem is this: if an adult say, in their mid 40s, receives RAI, then

develops a tumor 30 years later, it might never be discovered due to

mortality rates and other diseases that an elderly person might have. My

daughter, on the other hand, would only be in her mid 40s in another 30

years. She'd still have lots of life left and I don't want to risk that

remaining life.

Thanks for the input on cats and dosages. Still, we hope to never have to

use RAI for our child.

Pam

In a message dated 2/26/2002 2:46:57 PM Central Standard Time,

luckystrike@... writes:

> Hi ,

> I bet if they had to isolate people for the same amount of time they

> isolate

> cats for, RAI use would drop down to nil...the cost would skyrocket, and

> people would be swayed to NOT do this because they wouldn't stay away from

> family, friends, and work for that long. Oh to live in a *perfect* world.

>

> For these reasons, I think that is why so many people are not being given

> the true facts and precautions these days before going into RAI. Look at

> what Elaine said, she contaminated her whole lab and took, I believe she

> said, 6 weeks for her to not be doing that anymore!

>

> Things to ponder I think. That and how to use this information to make RAI

>

> harder, if not impossible to get.

> Jody

I want to be the kind of friend Jesus would call, at the end of the day, just

to talk about nothing.-Wayne

February 26, 2002